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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Three-Dimensional Printing of a Complex Aortic Anomaly
Published on: November 1, 2018
[Chest pain after angiography without anomalies]
Tim Schutte1,2, Shanti Ramawadhdoebe3, Jeroen Schotten3
1Zaans Medisch Centrum, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Longgeneeskunde en Cardiologie, Zaandam.
Insights
Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) patients face increased future heart disease risks. A case highlights coronary dissection as a potential cause in MINOCA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Myocardial infarction is classified by ECG findings (STEMI/NSTEMI) or coronary angiography (CAG).
- Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries/Atherosclerosis (MINOCA) affects up to 25% of myocardial infarction patients.
- MINOCA patients exhibit a higher risk of future cardiovascular events.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old woman experienced two myocardial infarctions within a week.
- The initial event was diagnosed as MINOCA, with normal ECG and CAG.
- The second event, five days later, presented with ST-elevations on ECG and revealed coronary dissection on CAG.
Findings:
- This case illustrates a MINOCA diagnosis followed by ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to coronary dissection.
- Coronary dissection can manifest as a cause of myocardial infarction, even in cases initially presenting as MINOCA.
Implications:
- MINOCA patients have an elevated risk for recurrent cardiac events.
- Coronary dissection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of MINOCA, particularly with recurrent symptoms.
- Further investigation into the mechanisms and management of MINOCA, including dissection, is warranted.
Background:
Myocardial infarction can be categorized based on ECG-findings (presence or absence of ST-elevations on STEMI/NSTEMI) or on the results from coronary angiography (CAG) (presence or absence of obstructive atherosclerosis). Myocardial infarction without significant obstruction on CAG (Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries/Atherosclerosis; MINOCA) occurs in up to a quarter of patients with myocardial infarcts. These patients have a higher risk of future heart diseases; up to a quarter of MINOCA patients suffer from heart diseases during a median follow-up of four years.
Case Description:
We describe a 55-year old woman, who suffered from two myocardial infarctions in one week. The first time, no ST-elevation was detected with ECG and CAG was without abnormalities (MINOCA). Five days later, she experienced the same symptoms; ECG showed ST-elevations and CAG revealed a coronary dissection.
Conclusion:
Patients with a myocardial infarction without coronary obstruction (MINOCA) have a higher risk of future heart diseases. In this case, a coronary dissection.
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