Non-invasive investigation of vascular compression in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients (377) with brachial pain and controls (63) were examined regarding the presence of symptomatic compression of the brachial plexus and subclavian vessels (thoracic outlet syndrome = TOS). Each patient was examined clinically and by Doppler flowmetry: 230 (61%) had moderate to pronounced compression of the brachial plexus, 11 (2.9%) had isolated compression of the subclavian artery or vein and 129 had symptoms not related to TOS. The prevalence of TOS was almost twice as common in women as in men, 1.76:1. The TOS patients were younger than the non-TOS patients, P < 0.05. There was a significant correlation between arterial compression measured by Doppler flowmetry and the presence of compression of the plexus, P < 0.001. But the validity of this method was not satisfactory, giving both false positive and negative results. There was a very good correlation between arterial compression assessed clinically and by Doppler flowmetry, P < 0.001. The diagnosis of TOS is still a clinical judgement, the Doppler technique adding very little and any significant vascular compression being easily detected by clinical assessment.