Right-sided aortic arch

Hover on/off image to show/hide findings

Tap on/off image to show/hide findings

Right-sided aortic arch

  • A right-sided aortic arch can be associated with other anatomical abnormalities of the great vessels, or with congenital heart diseases such as tetralogy of Fallot
  • A right-sided aortic arch may also be an asymptomatic and incidental finding, as in this case

Right-sided aortic arch with tracheal deviation

Hover on/off image to show/hide findings

Tap on/off image to show/hide findings

Right-sided aortic arch with tracheal deviation

  • A right-sided aortic arch may produce symptoms related to tracheal or oesophageal compression
  • Compression or deviation of these structures is not usually visible on a chest X-ray, as it is in this case, and so further investigation (CT or MRI) may be indicated in any patient with breathing or swallowing difficulty who has a right aortic arch

Page author: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust UK (Read bio)

Last reviewed: October 2019