Aortic arch anomalies

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the aortic arch represent a diverse set of malformations with a common embryologic origin and a wide array of clinical manifestations. Arch anomalies are noted in 1-10/1,000 live births and account for approximately 15-20 % of all congenital heart disease (Hoffman and Kaplan, J Am Coll Cardiol 39:1890-1900, 2002). Presentation of aortic arch anomalies is highly variable with many patients remaining asymptomatic throughout life. When present, symptoms generally result from compression of surrounding mediastinal structures or associated intracardiac defects. Successful management of symptomatic arch anomalies often relies on surgical or endovascular intervention aimed at relieving compression or improving hemodynamics. In this review, we present several common aortic anomalies in correlation with their embryologic development and clinical features.