Essentials of thoracic outlet syndrome: A narrative review

Table 2 Differential diagnoses for thoracic outlet syndrome and their distinguishing clinical features

Disorder	Distinguishing features
Raynaud’s syndrome	Cold fingers, color changes in the skin in response to cold or stress that are relieved by warmth
Vasculitis	Severe sudden-onset pain involving more than one limb, elevated C-reactive protein level, skin lesion (e.g., purpura, petechiae, ulcer)
Rotator cuff tear	Pain during shoulder movement that is easily differentiated by ultrasound
Cervical radiculopathy	Acute pain (disc rupture), insidious onset (spinal stenosis), spurling sign (+), denervating potential of cervical paraspinalis on electromyography
Cubital tunnel syndrome	Tinel sign (+) over cubital tunnel; Differentiated by nerve conduction study
Guyon’s canal syndrome	Tinel sign (+) over Guyon’s canal; Differentiated by nerve conduction study
Neuralgic amyotrophy	Extreme sudden-onset pain followed by rapid motor weakness and atrophy
Pancoast tumor	Pain in the shoulder radiating to the inner part of the scapula, possible Horner syndrome, tumor on the apex of the lung
Complex regional pain syndrome	Diffuse pain, predominant vasomotor features, history of stroke, trauma, or peripheral nerve injury