Variant Coronary Arterial Collateral Ring

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Anatomical Variations

Background:

• Myocardial infarction diagnosis often relies on identifying significant coronary artery blockages.
• Standard coronary angiography visualizes native coronary arteries to assess for stenosis or occlusion.

Observation:

• A 74-year-old male patient presented with symptoms indicative of myocardial infarction.
• Coronary angiography identified a total occlusion in the distal right coronary artery.
• A unique accessory coronary ring was observed supplying retrograde collateral flow to the left ventricle.

Findings:

• The accessory coronary ring acted as a collateral pathway, bypassing the occluded native vessel.
• This finding underscores the presence and functional significance of non-native coronary vessels.

Implications:

• Accurate identification of all coronary vessels, including accessory ones, is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Considering non-native vessels can alter the interpretation of coronary anatomy and lesion targeting.
• This case emphasizes the importance of comprehensive anatomical assessment in interventional cardiology.