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Aberrant coronary arteries: a reliable echocardiographic screening method
Saadeh B Jureidini1, Cynthia J Marino, Gautam K Singh
1Section of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine/Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. jureidsb@slu.edu
Summary
Aberrant origin of a coronary artery (ABO CA) is dangerous, but a new echocardiographic screening sign is reliable. This sign, visible in 88% of patients, aids in early detection of ABO CA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Aberrant origin of a coronary artery (ABO CA) from the contralateral aortic sinus is a life-threatening condition with a high risk of sudden cardiac events.
- Current screening methods for ABO CA are unreliable, necessitating improved diagnostic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a specific echocardiographic finding in the anterior aortic wall on a long-axis view can serve as a reliable screening sign for ABO CA.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of echocardiograms from 8 patients diagnosed with ABO CA.
- Comparison with echocardiograms from 1743 age-matched control patients.
- Assessment for a specific screening sign in the anterior aortic wall on the long-axis view.
Main Results:
- The proposed echocardiographic screening sign was identified in 7 of 8 patients (88%) with ABO CA.
- The sign was not detected in ABO CA originating from the circumflex artery branch.
- The anterior aortic wall was normal in all control patients, with a very low false-positive rate (0.3%).
Conclusions:
- The identified echocardiographic sign is a reliable and easily recognizable screening tool for ABO CA.
- This screening sign should prompt further comprehensive cardiovascular assessment to confirm the diagnosis and guide management.