Thoracic outlet syndrome: clinical and diagnostic features

Abstract

Since the term “thoracic outlet syndrome” (TOS) has been introduced, there have been disputes about the accuracy of the diagnosis, definition, diagnostic workup and treatment of this condition. Existing clinical variants include involvement of blood vessels and nerve fibers. Neurogenic TOS, consisting of the brachial plexus compression, is the most common variant of TOS, which is also the most hardly proven by physical findings, imaging or electrodiagnostic studies. A long history of searching the “gold standard” for TOS diagnosis has led to a large number of publications. The current paper reviews the symptoms and diagnostic approaches to the neurogenic TOS.

Keywords

• thoracic outlet syndrome
• neurogenic tos
• arterial vascular tos
• venous vascular tos
• interscalene space
• costoclavicular space
• subpectoral space