Myocardial bridging evaluated with 128-multi detector computed tomography coronary angiography

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence, length, depth, and location of myocardial bridging of the coronary arteries using 128-multi detector computed tomography coronary angiography.

The study cohort consisted of 875 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for various indications. We evaluated the presence, length, and location of complete and incomplete bridging. In cases of complete bridging the thickness of the overlying muscle was also measured.

From a total of 875 subjects, 184 subjects (21%) were found to a single myocardial bridge. Complete bridging was detected in 161 patients (18.4%) and incomplete bridging in 23 patients (2.6%). The coronary arteries involved were the mid portion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (67.9%), the distal portion of the LAD (28.8%), and the proximal portion of the LAD (3.2%). No myocardial bridging was detected in other arteries in our study. The mean length and maximum myocardial thickness overlying the complete bridging were 20.9 mm (range 8-32 mm) and 2.6 mm (range 1.2-5.3 mm), respectively. The mean length of the incomplete bridging was 17 mm (range 9-2.3 mm).

Multi detector computed tomography is a reliable non-invasive modality for diagnosing myocardial bridging. The prevalence of myocardial bridging in this patient group was 21%. Our results are in agreement with those reported in pathologic studies, the gold standard for detecting this anomaly.