Origin of three coronary arteries from the right sinus, ramus intermedius from the left sinus and hybrid distribution

Krishnakumar Nair1, Jaganmohan A Tharakan, K Mahadevan Krishnamoorthy

  • 1Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Kerala, India. drkn14@sify.com

Insights

This study details a rare coronary artery anomaly in a diabetic patient, featuring a unique hybrid branching pattern. The unusual anatomy presented minimal disease, thus no intervention was needed.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Anatomical Variations
  • Interventional Cardiology

Background:

  • Coronary artery anomalies are congenital variations in the structure of the heart's major arteries.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for diagnosing and managing potential cardiac complications.
  • This case highlights a complex and previously undocumented coronary artery distribution.

Observation:

  • A 72-year-old male patient with hypertension and diabetes presented with an unusual coronary artery pattern.
  • The left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery originated separately from the right sinus.
  • A ramus intermedius artery arose from the left sinus, with a hybrid branching pattern observed.

Findings:

  • The left anterior descending artery exhibited a unique right ventricular branch.
  • Septal branches originated from the ramus intermedius artery, a novel observation.
  • Coronary angiography revealed minimal coronary artery disease.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known spectrum of coronary artery anomalies.
  • The absence of an interarterial course and minimal disease precluded the need for intervention.
  • Awareness of such rare anatomical variations is essential for accurate interpretation of cardiac imaging and procedural planning.

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