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Published on: August 28, 2018
Recurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection observed with multiple imaging modalities
Hiroyuki Jinnouchi1, Kenichi Sakakura, Jun Matsuda
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Japan.
Insights
Recurrent spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can affect multiple coronary arteries. Intracoronary ultrasound (IVUS) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) are more sensitive than coronary angiography (CAG) for SCAD diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
- Recurrent and multivessel SCAD are particularly uncommon presentations.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old man experienced two distinct SCAD events.
- The first event involved dissection of the right coronary artery, confirmed by CAG, IVUS, and MDCT.
- The second event involved dissection of the left coronary artery, confirmed by IVUS and MDCT, but not by CAG.
Findings:
- Coronary angiography (CAG) may underestimate or miss SCAD diagnoses.
- Intracoronary ultrasound (IVUS) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) demonstrate higher sensitivity for detecting SCAD.
- These imaging modalities are crucial for accurate SCAD diagnosis, especially in recurrent or multivessel cases.
Implications:
- The findings highlight the limitations of CAG in diagnosing SCAD.
- IVUS and MDCT are valuable tools for improving SCAD detection rates.
- Enhanced diagnostic accuracy for SCAD can lead to better patient management and outcomes.
Abstract:
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is considered to be a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome, especially recurrent or multivessel dissection. We present here the case of 51 year-old man who had recurrent and multivessel SCAD. In the initial event, the distal segment of the right coronary artery was spontaneously dissected, which was confirmed by coronary angiography (CAG), intracoronary ultrasound (IVUS), and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). In the second event, the left coronary artery was spontaneously dissected. The dissection was confirmed by IVUS and MDCT, although CAG did not show stenosis, occlusion, or dissection in the left coronary artery. These findings suggest the weakness of CAG and the usefulness of IVUS or MDCT for the diagnosis of SCAD.
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