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Direct Re-implantation of Left Coronary Artery into the Aorta in Adults with Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA)
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Anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery from the right coronary artery: a case report

Sotiris C Plastiras1, Ourania S Kampessi, Maria Gotzamanidou

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko Hospital, Greece. splastiras@panafonet.gr.

Cases Journal
|November 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A rare coronary artery anomaly, the ectopic origin of the left circumflex artery from the right coronary artery, was identified in a patient with myocardial infarction. Accurate diagnosis of such anomalies is crucial for patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Anatomical Variations

Background:

  • Coronary artery anomalies occur in 0.6%-1.55% of patients undergoing angiography.
  • Diagnostic angiography increasingly identifies these abnormalities.
  • This report details an unusual case of anomalous coronary artery origin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of anomalous left circumflex coronary artery origin.
  • To emphasize the importance of identifying coronary artery anomalies.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a 45-year-old male with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.
  • Coronary angiography was performed to diagnose the anomaly.

Main Results:

  • An ectopic left circumflex coronary artery originating from the proximal right coronary artery was identified.
  • This specific anatomical variation is exceptionally rare.

Conclusions:

  • Anomalous coronary artery origins are uncommon but can lead to significant cardiac events like myocardial ischemia and sudden death.
  • Reliable identification of these anomalies is critical for effective management and therapeutic intervention planning.
Abstract

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