Adult presentation of ALCAPA: Echo and CT diagnosis
Edmund Kenneth Kerut1, Philip G Kogos2, Jason H Anderson3
1Heart Clinic of Louisiana, Marrero, LA, USA.
Insights
A rare congenital heart defect, anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), was diagnosed in a young male presenting with aborted sudden death. Advanced imaging confirmed ALCAPA
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart anomaly.
- It can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and treated early.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old male presented with aborted sudden death, a critical manifestation of ALCAPA.
- Diagnostic imaging was crucial for identifying this rare coronary anomaly.
Findings:
- Thoracic echocardiography and cardiac computed tomographic angiography revealed characteristic ALCAPA findings.
- These included a dilated, tortuous right coronary artery, septal and epicardial collateral vessels, and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of ALCAPA using complementary imaging modalities is essential for timely surgical intervention.
- Early detection and surgical correction can prevent life-threatening cardiac events.
Abstract:
A healthy 20-year-old male presented with aborted sudden death. Both thoracic echocardiography and cardiac computed tomographic angiography demonstrated the characteristic findings of ALCAPA noting a dilated and tortuous right coronary artery, dilated coronary collateral arteries within the interventricular septum or along the surface of the heart, and visualization of the left coronary artery origin from the posterior aspect of the main pulmonary artery. Both imaging modalities demonstrated all three characteristic findings of this rare coronary anomaly and served as complementary imaging studies for surgical correction.
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