Post mortem coronary angiographic visualization of a rare sinus node artery anatomical variant

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Anatomy
• Interventional Cardiology
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• Sinoatrial (SA) node artery variants are documented, but their clinical significance varies.
• Understanding coronary artery anatomy is crucial for cardiovascular interventions and surgical planning.

Observation:

• A rare post-mortem angiographic finding revealed an anomalous origin of the SA node artery.
• The sinus node artery originated from the proximal conus artery, a previously unreported variation.

Findings:

• The identified sinoatrial artery variant was asymptomatic in the deceased individual.
• This anatomical variation represents a unique deviation from typical coronary artery origins.

Implications:

• Awareness of this rare SA node artery variant is essential for interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
• Potential complications during procedures involving the conus artery or SA node must be considered due to this anomaly.