CTICasesProminent Right Third Intercostal-Bronchial Artery Trunk Mimicking Aortic Injury
Imaging findings
On CT angiography in a blunt trauma patient, a small bump-like structure was identified on the medial aspect of the proximal descending aorta, raising initial concern for a vascular injury. Thin-section and coronal reformats showed this to be a small vessel giving rise to an anterior branch and additional branches, one presumed bronchial and one intercostal, corresponding to the infundibulum of a prominent right third intercostal-bronchial arterial trunk.
Key takeaways
This normal, though uncommonly recognized, common arterial trunk arising near the proximal descending aorta can mimic a small aortic injury or pseudoaneurysm in the trauma setting. Awareness of this variant, aided by a matching prior published case report, prevented an unnecessary diagnosis of traumatic aortic injury.
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