A prospective study was carried out to determine the clinical and radiological characteristics of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), whose patients presented neurological or vascular symptoms in the upper extremity from the compression of the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels. Twenty-six patients with cervical disc disease (C-group), 36 patients with TOS (T-group), and 18 patients with cervical disc disease combined with TOS (CT-group) were compared on sex, age, weight, symptoms and radiological findings. The T-group had younger females with lean posture. In the radiographs of the T-group, cervical lateral X-Ps in the neutral position showed the inferior margin of the T1 vertebrae as the lowest level and kyphotic malalignment. The range of motion in the flexion and extension views was maintained and anterior-posterior views revealed the lower position of the clavicle. The total spinal lateral X-P in TOS patients demonstrated faulty posture and anterior deviation of the gravity line at the C5 level. The common evidence between the CT-group and the C-group suggested that the pathogenesis of the secondary TOS is caused by cervical disc diseases.
