Variação anatômica da artéria torácica interna lateral: relato de caso / Lateral internal thoracic artery anatomic variation: a case report

The objective of this report was to describe a variation in the origin of the lateral internal thoracic artery (LITA), a variable large-caliber artery in the thoracic wall. This report presents a case in which a trunk coming from the subclavian artery (SCA) bifurcates and gives origin to the LITA and internal thoracic artery (ITA). This case demonstrates an unusual bilateral origin for the LITA, which emerges together with the ITA rather than directly from the SCA, as could be expected. Although such presentation is uncommon, the possibility that it could be damaged during surgical interventions such as thoracotomy and pleural drainage justifies our report.