Abstract des Autors

Aneurysms of the axillary artery and its branches in baseball players and other overhead throwing athletes have been reported with increased frequency. Patients often exhibit a variety of symptoms usually related to ischemia. Signs and symptoms are often quite subtle, and therefore a high index of suspicion is necessary for prompt diagnosis. The cause of these aneurysms is not well known. They may arise from repetitive impingement of the pectoralis minor muscle or of the humeral head on the axillary or circumflex arteries, or from tethering of the vessels during repetitive, rigorous shoulder motion. The majority of cases in baseball pitchers have involved the posterior humeral circumflex artery. We report on an unusually large aneurysm in a professional baseball pitcher that involved the axillary artery and its subscapular and humeral circumflex branches, with complete thrombosis of the anterior circumflex humeral artery. Verf.-Referat