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Bilateral nonfistulous congenital coronary arterial aneurysms
The American Journal of Cardiology
|February 1, 1975
Insights
Congenital coronary arterial aneurysms caused a teenager
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Congenital coronary arterial aneurysms are rare vascular malformations.
- Sudden cardiac death in young athletes can be linked to undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the potential for early diagnosis of congenital coronary arterial aneurysms.
- To identify clinical and radiological clues suggestive of coronary arterial aneurysms in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem examination of a 15-year-old male who died suddenly.
- Retrospective analysis of clinical history and diagnostic imaging.
Main Results:
- Autopsy confirmed bilateral congenital coronary arterial aneurysms as the cause of death.
- Pre-mortem clinical findings included chest pain and a heart murmur.
- Chest roentgenogram showed a mass on the right heart border, a potential diagnostic clue.
Conclusions:
- Congenital coronary arterial aneurysms may be suspected before death with careful evaluation of clinical and radiological findings.
- Early recognition can potentially prevent sudden cardiac death in affected individuals.
Abstract:
A 15 year old boy collapsed and died after participating in a basketball game. Autopsy revealed bilateral congenital coronary arterial aneurysms. The diagnosis was made post mortem but, retrospectively, might have been suspected during life, even before angiography. The clues to the correct diagnosis were chest pain, a systolic and diastolic murmur and a mass on the right heart border in the chest roentgenogram.