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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
[Multi-slice computed tomography of myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery and clinical significance thereof]
Li Yang1, Lin-fen Zhao, Ying Li
1Department of Radiology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
Insights
Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) effectively diagnoses myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery (MB-MCA). This condition, found in 18.56% of patients, shows no significant correlation with coronary atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Radiology
- Anatomy
Background:
- Myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery (MB-MCA) are congenital anomalies affecting coronary arteries.
- Accurate diagnosis and understanding the clinical significance of MB-MCA are crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic capability of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) for MB-MCA.
- To investigate the clinical significance and morphological characteristics of MB-MCA.
Main Methods:
- 900 patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice CT.
- Diagnosis of MB-MCA was confirmed by consensus among three independent radiologists.
- Morphological parameters including length of MCA and thickness of MB were measured, and adjacent vessel status was recorded.
Main Results:
- MB-MCA was identified in 167 out of 900 patients (18.56%), predominantly on the left anterior descending artery (LAD).
- MCA was semi-circularly or circularly covered by MB, with average MCA length of 18.7 mm and MB thickness of 1.7 mm.
- Coronary atherosclerosis was present in 52.69% of patients with MB-MCA, but no significant correlation was found with MB-MCA grade.
Conclusions:
- 64-slice CT is a reliable method for diagnosing MB-MCA and characterizing its morphology.
- The severity of MB-MCA, as graded by specific criteria, does not appear to be significantly associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis.
Objective:
To investigate the diagnosis of myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery (MB-MCA) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and clinical significance thereof.
Methods:
900 patients suspected as with coronary artery disease (CHD) underwent 64-slice computed tomography performed by 3 radiologists independently. When consistency was obtained among the independent interpretations of the tomogram among them the diagnosis of MB-MCA could be confirmed. The length of MCA and thickness of MB were measured, and the situation of the nearby arteries were observed and recorded. Based on the above mentioned 3 items the reference scoring criteria were established.
Results:
180 sites of MB-NCA were found in 167 (18.56%) of the 900 patients, 112 males and 55 females, aged 54.46 (33 - 84). 167 of the 180 sites of MB-MCA were located on the LAD (92.7%). MCA could be covered by MB in a form of semi-circularity (63.89%, 115/180) or circularity (36.11%, 65/180) The length of MCA was 18.7 mm +/- 10.2 mm, and the thickness of MB was 1.7 mm +/- 1.2 mm. 70% of the arteries proximal and/or distal to the MB-MCA were tortuous. Length of MCA < 10 mm, half-surrounding of MB, and smoothness of the proximal and distant vessels were scored as 1; length of MCA of 10 approximately 20 mm, thickness of MB < 1 mm, and tortuousness of the unilateral proximal or distant vessel were scored as 2; and length of MCA > 20 mm, thickness of MB > 1 mm, and tortuousness of the bilateral proximal and distant vessels were scored as 3. Coronary atherosclerosis was found in 88 of the 167 patients (52.69%). No significant correlation was found between coronary atherosclerosis and MB-MCA grade (u = 1.234, P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Sixty-four-slice CT can be used to confirm the presence of MB = MCA and the morphology of coronary artery with MB-MCA. Coronary atherosclerosis is not significantly correlated with MB-MCA grade.
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