Single coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva

Elio Venturini1, Lucia Magni

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Civic Hospital Cecina, Italy.

Heart International
|October 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A rare single coronary artery anomaly, originating from the right sinus and branching into left and right coronary arteries, was diagnosed in a 74-year-old woman with myocardial infarction. Multislice CT imaging was crucial for diagnosis and understanding the anomaly.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Anatomical Pathology

Background:

  • Congenital coronary artery anomalies are rare but can lead to significant cardiovascular events.
  • A single coronary artery is an uncommon anomaly with varying origins and branching patterns.

Observation:

  • A 74-year-old woman presented with non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
  • Coronary angiography revealed a single coronary artery originating from the right coronary sinus, bifurcating into the left and right coronary arteries.
  • Multislice computed tomography (CT) defined the retroaortic course of the left coronary artery.

Findings:

  • The coronary angiography ruled out significant stenosis in the bifurcating left and right coronary arteries.
  • Multislice CT confirmed the anomalous origin and retroaortic course of the left coronary artery.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging like multislice CT in diagnosing complex coronary artery anomalies.
  • Understanding the anatomical variations and their potential for causing myocardial infarction is crucial for clinical decision-making.
  • Coronary artery anomalies, even without stenosis, can precipitate acute coronary syndromes due to altered blood flow dynamics.

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