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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

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Multidetector CT imaging of arterial supply to sinuatrial and atrioventricular nodes

Tugba Cezlan1, Senem Senturk, Musturay Karcaaltıncaba

  • 1Radiology Department, Kiziltepe State Hospital, Mardin, Turkey. tugbacezlan@gmail.com

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA
|December 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Multidetector CT effectively visualizes the sinuatrial nodal artery (SANA) and atrioventricular nodal artery (AVNA). These critical cardiac arteries exhibit variations in origin and number, impacting blood supply to the heart's conduction system.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Cardiac Anatomy
  • Radiology

Background:

  • The sinuatrial nodal artery (SANA) and atrioventricular nodal artery (AVNA) are crucial for cardiac conduction.
  • Understanding their detailed anatomy is essential for interpreting cardiac imaging and surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate the anatomical characteristics of the sinuatrial nodal artery (SANA) and atrioventricular nodal artery (AVNA) using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 400 patients undergoing coronary CT angiography.
  • Evaluation of SANA and AVNA origin, localization, diameter, number, course, and variants using high-resolution MDCT (0.6-0.8 mm slices).

Main Results:

  • MDCT successfully imaged SANA and AVNA in all patients.
  • A single SANA was observed in 95.7% of patients; two SANAs in 4.2%.
  • SANA originated from the right coronary artery (RCA) in 58.2% and the left circumflex (LCX) artery in 37.2%.
  • AVNA originated from the distal RCA in 87.7% and distal LCX artery in 12.3%.

Conclusions:

  • MDCT is a reliable modality for visualizing SANA and AVNA.
  • Significant anatomical variations exist in the number, origin, and course of these arteries.
Abstract

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