Diagnosis

To diagnose vascular rings and rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms, your doctor may review your child's signs and symptoms, do a physical exam, and order tests that may include:

• Imaging tests. A chest X-ray can show which side of the body the aortic arch is on, and any changes in the trachea that may suggest that a vascular ring is present.

  Other imaging tests may be done to diagnose vascular rings, such as an echocardiogram or a CT angiogram or MRI. Doctors may also use these tests to plan treatment.

• Barium swallow. In this test, your child swallows a substance called barium. X-rays are used to see how the barium moves inside of the esophagus. The barium allows the doctor to see whether or not there's an indentation that may be caused by vascular rings.
• Upper endoscopy. A long, flexible tube with a camera allows your child's doctor to examine the esophagus. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth into the throat as a tiny camera at the tip of the tube sends images to a video monitor.
• Bronchoscopy. A bronchoscopy may be done to evaluate the cause of symptoms and to determine the location and severity of compression against the trachea. In this test, a doctor inserts a small, flexible tube through the mouth or nose into the lungs. A light and a small camera attached to the bronchoscope allow the doctor to look inside the trachea and the lungs' airways.