Tortuous innominate artery simulating a supraclavicular subcutaneous tumour.

© 2009 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-0584 Journal Compilation © 2009 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Sir, When a subcutaneous mass is noticed in the anterior neck of a patient, we usually consider a diagnosis of skin tumour, lymph node swelling (1), or thyroid tumour (2). Vascular diseases, such as a tortuous major artery, aneurysm, or haemangioma are extremely rare (3–7). We describe here a case of a right tortuous innominate artery in which it proved impossible to detect pulsation because of the skeleto-muscular structures shielding the affected area. If either an aspiration or an open biopsy were to be performed near a tortuous innominate artery simulating a subcutaneous mass, a major artery might be damaged, possibly with lethal consequences. We present here clinical findings that call for caution in dealing with a tortuous innominate artery simulating a supraclavicular subcutaneous tumour.