Report on a rare single coronary artery anomaly: Need for comprehensive investigations
Rishi Tuhin Guria1, Utkarsh Gupta1
1Department of Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
Insights
Single coronary artery anomaly (SCAA) is a rare condition, often asymptomatic but can cause sudden death. This case highlights a rare R-III type, emphasizing diagnostic approaches and potential causes like hypoxia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Single coronary artery anomaly (SCAA) is a rare congenital heart defect with a low incidence (0.024%-0.066%).
- While often asymptomatic, SCAA is a recognized cause of sudden cardiac death.
- The R-III type, as classified by Lipton et al., represents a particularly uncommon subtype.
Abstract:
Single coronary artery anomaly (SCAA) is a very rare disorder with an incidence of about 0.024%-0.066% which presents with the diverse feature but is mostly asymptomatic. It has found to be one of the pathological states to cause sudden death. We report a case of R-III type of SCAA as classified by Lipton et al. which is only about 15% of all the cases of SCAA which makes it even rarer. Hypoxic environment is thought to be an important cause for the development of such anomalies which gives us clues to determine the predisposing factors to be ruled out in patient's history. Coronary angiography is the key toward definitive diagnosis which can be later supported by computed tomography scan and determination of its subtypes. Depending on the findings and physical state of the patient, medical or surgical treatment can be defined but only after correct diagnosis by comprehensive investigations.
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