title: The thoracic outlet syndromes: Part 1. Overview of the thoracic outlet syndromes and review of true neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.
abstract: The thoracic outlet syndromes (TOSs) are a group of etiologically and clinically distinct disorders with 1 feature in common: compression of 1 or more neurovascular elements as they traverse the thoracic outlet. The medical literature reflects 5 TOSs: arterial; venous; traumatic neurovascular; true neurogenic; and disputed. Of these, the first 4 demonstrate all of the features expected of a syndrome, whereas disputed TOS does not, causing many experts to doubt its existence altogether. Thus, some categorize disputed TOS as a cervicoscapular pain syndrome rather than as a type of TOS. To better understand these disorders, their distinctions, and the reasoning underlying the categorical change of disputed TOS from a form of TOS to a cervicoscapular pain syndrome, a thorough understanding of the pertinent anatomy, pathology, pathophysiology, and the electrodiagnostic manifestations of their pathophysiologies is required. This review of the TOSs is provided in 2 parts. In this first part we address information pertinent to all 5 TOSs and reviews true neurogenic TOS. In part 2 we review the other 4 TOSs. Muscle Nerve 55: 782-793, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.|Neurophysiology Division, Department of Neurology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000503:physiopathology; D002968:Clavicle / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012272:Ribs / Q000503:physiopathology; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: brachial plexus; cervical rib; fibrous band; lower trunk; rib and band syndrome; subclavian artery; subclavian vein; thoracic outlet; thoracic outlet syndrome