A ductus remnant confounding the diagnosis of blunt thoracic aortic injury in a 13-year-old adolescent boy.

Anatomical variants can pose diagnostic dilemmas for the clinician and may confound critical decision making for traumatic thoracic aortic injuries. With significant morbidity and mortality for both the injury and the therapeutic options in the pediatric population, an accurate diagnosis is essential for a good outcome. Knowledge of both the anatomical variant as well as the potential injury is required for a precise diagnosis.