Lusory artery

Arteria lusoria MRI

Lusory artery is aberrant branch of a. subclavie. It withdraws as the last branch of the aortic arch behind the left subclavian artery, or from the descending part of the aorta. It passes through the rear mediastinum usually behind osesophagus and because of the pressure caused by the oesophagus it can cause dysfagic problems (ie. dysphagia lusoria), it cen exceptionally pass between oesophagus and trachea and compress the respiratory tract and cause prolonged cough of infants. It can also press on n. laryngeus recurrens sinister and lead to Ortner's syndroms. Aberrant branch can also be associated with the so-called Kommerell's diverticulum.