Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Detection of Coronary Artery Fistula between the LAD and the Great Cardiac Vein on Coronary CT Angiography
Ramazan Orkun Onder1, Serdar Aslan1
1Faculty of Medicine, Giresun University.
Insights
Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are abnormal heart vessel connections. Cardiac CT angiography effectively diagnoses these complex conditions, like a left anterior descending artery fistula to the cardiac vein, without invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) represent abnormal vascular connections bypassing myocardial capillaries.
- Coronary artery-to-cardiac vein fistulas are the third most common type, comprising 7% of all CAFs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of coronary artery-to-cardiac vein fistula diagnosed via cardiac CT angiography.
- To highlight the utility of noninvasive imaging in evaluating complex coronary artery anatomy.
Main Methods:
- Electrocardiographic-gated cardiac computed tomographic (CT) angiography was utilized for diagnosis.
- The study involved a 77-year-old female patient presenting with a specific fistula anatomy.
Main Results:
- A fistula was identified between the left anterior descending coronary artery and the greater cardiac vein at the distal level.
- Cardiac CT angiography provided detailed anatomical visualization of the fistula.
Conclusions:
- Coronary artery CT angiography is a valuable noninvasive tool for diagnosing coronary artery fistulas.
- This method offers detailed anatomical evaluation, obviating the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.
Abstract:
Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are abnormal communications of coronary arteries whereby venous circuits bypass the normal capillaries within the myocardium. Coronary artery-to-cardiac vein fistula is the third most common type of CAF, accounting for 7% of cases. Electrocardiographic-gated cardiac computed tomographic (CT) angiography has emerged as a noninvasive alternative method of choice for diagnosis due to its high spatial and temporal resolution and short acquisition time. Herein, we aimed to present a left anterior descending coronary artery opened into the greater cardiac vein at the distal level, consistent with a coronary artery-to-cardiac vein fistula in a 77-year-old woman. Teaching point: Coronary artery CT angiography provides a detailed evaluation of the complex anatomy of coronary artery fistula without the need for invasive methods.
More Related Videos
06:02Anatomical Reconstructions of the Human Cardiac Venous System using Contrast-computed Tomography of Perfusion-fixed Specimens
Published on: April 18, 2013
13:10Direct Re-implantation of Left Coronary Artery into the Aorta in Adults with Anomalous Origin of Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery ALCAPA
Published on: April 24, 2017
