Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
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J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol · Oct 2011
Occlusion and stenosis of the posterior circumflex humeral artery: detection with ultrasound in a normal population.
The posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) travels together with the axillary nerve through the quadrilateral space of the shoulder. Angiographic occlusion of this artery upon abduction and external rotation (ABER) of the arm has been accepted as evidence of mechanical compression of the axillary nerve and thus considered pathognomonic of quadrilateral space syndrome (QSS). The specificity of this sign for QSS has however been called into question as there are, to date, limited data on the incidence of axillary neurovascular compression during ABER in a normal population. We set out to determine the rate of stenosis or occlusion of the PCHA on ABER in healthy volunteers using ultrasound. ⋯ Occlusion or stenosis of the PCHA on ABER is an uncommon finding in an asymptomatic population. Axillary neurovascular compression is unlikely if colour Doppler ultrasound does not show PCHA compromise during ABER.