Abstract
We report herein two cases of thoracic esophageal cancer with a right aortic arch. Both cases were elderly males who complained of dysphagia. Computed tomography and aortography revealed a right aortic arch with a mirror-image branching and a diverticulum of the right descending aorta in both cases. They underwent an esophagectomy and a mediastinal lymph node dissection in a left thoractomy, and we also added a median sternotomy in the second case for a lymph node dissection in the right mediastinum. The ductus arteriosus was divided in the first case, but he died of a rupture of the aortic diverticulum 13 months later. In conclusion, for a successful esophagectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection, a median sternotomy should be added to the left thoractomy, while careful attention should also be paid to the aortic diverticulum and the ductus arteriosus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stewart JR, Kincaid OW, Edwards JE (1964) Malformations with right aortic arch (group III). In: An Atlas of Vascular Rings and Related Malformations of the Aortic Arch System. Thomas, Springfield, pp 80–121
Stewart JR, Kincaid OW (1966) Right aortic arch: plain film diagnosis and significance. Am J Roentgenol 97:377–389
Knight L, Edwards JE (1974) Right aortic arch, types and associated cardiac anomalies. Circulation 50:1047–1051
Felson B, Palayew MJ (1963) The two types of right aortic arch. Radiology 81:745–759
Sohma T, Kohno M, Koizumi H, Goto H, Wada T (1975) A case report of rare type of right aortic arch associated with esophageal cancer (in Japanese with English abstract). Kyobu Geka (Jpn J Thorac Surg) 28:590–595
Yokota K, Ikezoe J, Sone S, Higashihara T, Morimoto S, Naito H, Kawanishi K, Fujino M (1979) Right sided aortic arch without cardiac anomaly: a report of three cases (in Japanese with English abstract). Rinsho Hoshasen (Jap J Clin Radiol) 24:483–488
Nakamura S, Miyamoto Y, Ohwada S, Tanahashi Y, Takeyoshi I, Morishita Y (1993) Esophageal carcinoma with right aortic arch associated with a vascular ring (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Assoc Thorac Surg) 41:72–77
Nakamura H, Ide H, Eguchi R, Nakamura T, Hayashi K, Yoshida K, Kobayashi A, Tanaka M, Suzuki S, Murata Y, Yamada A (1993) A case of early esophageal cancer coexisting with the right aortic arch (in Japanese with English abstract). Shokaki Naishikyo No Shinpo (Prog Digest Endosc) 42:169–172
Yano M, Shiozaki H, Murata A, Inoue M, Tamura S, Monden M (1998) Successful resection of thoracic esophageal cancer associated with the right aortic arch. Surg Today 28:76–78
Tomita M, Ishii K, Nakashima S, Sugimoto H, Kuwahara H, Onitsuka T, Shibata K, Koga Y (1990) A case of a 74-year-old woman with vascular ring (in Japanese). Shinzo (Heart) 22:785–789
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saito, R., Kitamura, M., Suzuki, H. et al. Esophageal cancer associated with right aortic arch: Report of two cases. Surg Today 29, 1164–1167 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482266
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02482266