CORONARY ARTERIES - WHEN CALCIFICATION POPS UP

Joana Raquel Monteiro1, Sónia Salgueiro1, Fernanda Pinhal1

  • 1Serviço Medicina 2, Centro Hospitalar de Leiria, Portugal.

Insights

An elderly woman experienced syncope due to coronary artery calcification. This chest X-ray finding highlights potential cardiac issues in patients with cardiovascular disease history.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • The patient, an 84-year-old female, had a history of atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular disease, and ischemic heart failure.
  • She had undergone multiple coronary stent implantations due to coronary artery disease.

Observation:

  • The patient presented to the emergency room with a syncopal episode.
  • A chest radiograph was performed as part of the diagnostic workup.

Findings:

  • The chest radiograph revealed significant calcification along the coronary arteries.
  • This finding, termed coronary artery calcification, indicated the trajectory of the coronary vessels.

Implications:

  • Coronary artery calcification on chest X-ray can be an incidental finding in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
  • This may warrant further cardiac evaluation to assess the extent of coronary artery disease and risk of future events.
  • Radiographic evidence of calcification can provide non-invasive insights into vascular health in elderly patients.

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