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.
Abstract:
A 72-year-old hypertensive man with diabetes had a previously undiagnosed pattern of coronary artery distribution: the ramus intermedius from the left sinus, and the separate origin of the left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery and right coronary artery from the right sinus. A unique form of branching, a hybrid distribution, was also noted: the left anterior descending artery giving off a right ventricular branch and septals arising from the ramus. No intervention was planned due to the minimal disease observed with angiography and the absence of an interarterial course.
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