Intracavitary course of the right coronary artery: an increasingly recognized anomaly by coronary computed tomography

Rahul Renapurkar1, Milind Y Desai, Ronan J Curtin

  • 1Imaging Institute, Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. renapur@ccf.org

Insights

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a valuable tool for assessing coronary artery anatomy. This case report highlights CCTA

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Anatomical Variations

Background:

  • Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a widely adopted non-invasive imaging modality.
  • Its utility in delineating coronary artery anatomy is well-established.
  • Accurate anatomical assessment is crucial for diagnosing and managing coronary artery disease.

Observation:

  • A case is presented involving an unusual anatomical course of the right coronary artery.
  • The right coronary artery followed an intracavitary path within the cardiac chambers.
  • This finding was incidentally discovered during a CCTA examination.

Findings:

  • Coronary computed tomography angiography successfully identified the uncommon intracavitary course of the right coronary artery.
  • The imaging modality provided detailed visualization of the anomalous vessel trajectory.
  • This case underscores the capability of CCTA to detect rare coronary anomalies.

Implications:

  • Recognition of such anatomical variations is vital for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
  • Intracavitary coronary arteries may pose challenges during cardiac procedures.
  • CCTA plays a critical role in pre-procedural planning and anomaly detection.

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