Thoracic outlet syndrome

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Thoracic outlet anatomy

Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome may include:

• Pain, numbness, and tingling in the last three fingers and inner forearm
• Pain and tingling in the neck and shoulders (carrying something heavy may make the pain worse)
• Weakness of the muscles in the hand

Upon lifting, the arm may appear pale due to compression of the blood vessels. The arm may be smaller on the side of the symptoms, as this is often a congenital anomaly (present since birth).

Tests to confirm the diagnosis include the following:

• X-ray (may reveal an extra rib)
• MRI (may reveal fibrous band)
• Nerve conduction velocity study
• Electromyography (EMG)

Review Date: 01/18/2007
Reviewed By: Melvin Sidney Dassinger, III, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.