High riding innominate artery: An unusual pulsatile pretracheal mass

Abstract

Anterior neck masses are common and such patients commonly present to ultrasonography units for further evaluation of underlying pathology. We encountered an atypical case of pulsatile anterior neck swelling in a 45-year-old lady. Evaluation of the swelling using neck ultrasonography and color doppler study revealed that the mass was of vascular origin and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of neck confirmed the presence of an aberrant high riding innominate artery. Knowledge of such variants is of great importance and should be reported by the concerned radiologist. Lack of knowledge of such variants may lead to inadvertent surgical complications during procedures and can be life-threatening to the patient.

Keywords

• High riding brachiocephalic trunk
• High riding innominate artery
• Pulsatile anterior neck mass