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Inflammatory aortitis with coronary arterial involvement by multidetector cardiac computed tomography
Jo Mahenthiran1, Hicham El Masry, Shawn D Teague
1Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jmahenth@iupui.edu
Insights
This case highlights aortic inflammation as an unusual cause of myocardial infarction. Multidetector coronary computed tomography (MDCCT) imaging aided in diagnosing this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Inflammatory Diseases
Background:
- Myocardial infarction typically arises from coronary artery atherosclerosis.
- Aortic inflammation is an uncommon etiology for myocardial ischemia.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old hypertensive male presented with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction.
- Multidetector coronary computed tomography (MDCCT) revealed aortic intramural thickening and extrinsic compression of the left circumflex coronary artery.
Findings:
- Positron emission tomography confirmed active inflammation in the proximal aorta and coronary arteries.
- The findings suggest aortic inflammation as the cause of myocardial ischemia.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering uncommon causes of myocardial ischemia.
- MDCCT demonstrates a valuable role in diagnosing inflammatory aortic and coronary artery diseases.
Abstract:
A 40-year-old man with a history of hypertension was admitted for a non-ST-segment myocardial infarction. A multidetector coronary computed tomography (MDCCT) showed proximal aortic intramural thickening with extrinsic thickening and luminal compression of the proximal left circumflex coronary artery. Subsequent surgical evaluation and positron emission tomography imaging showed evidence of active inflammation of the proximal aorta and coronary arteries. Hence, this case illustrates an uncommon cause of myocardial ischemia and the emerging complimentary role that MDCCT can play in such patients.
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