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Thoracic outlet syndrome - Symptom

Symptoms:

Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome may include:

Pain, numbness, and tingling in the pinky and ring fingers, and the inner forearm
Pain and tingling in the neck and shoulders (carrying something heavy may make the pain worse)
Signs of poor circulation in the hand or forearm (a bluish color, cold hands, or a swollen arm)
Weakness of the muscles in the hand

Signs and tests:

When you lift something, the arm may look pale due to pressure on the blood vessels.

The diagnosis is typically made after the doctor takes a careful history and performs a physical examination. Sometimes the following tests are done to confirm the diagnosis:

Tests are also done to make sure that there are no other problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a damaged nerve due to problems in the cervical (neck) spine.

Thoracic outlet anatomy

Reviewed last on: 11/1/2010
Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Smythe WR, Reznik SI, Putnam Jr. JB. Lung (including pulmonary embolism and thoracic outlet syndrome). In: Townsend Jr. CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 59.

Numbness and tingling

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