Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery: Advantages of Multimodality Imaging
Andreia D Constante1, Petra Loureiro1, José F Martins1
1Pediatric Cardiology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde São José, Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisbon, PRT.
Abstract:
Coronary anomalies are one of the most surprising yet challenging pediatric cardiology diagnoses. The anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is frequently underdiagnosed due to a lack of typical signs or symptoms. We present a case of ARCAPA in a healthy six-month-old girl during follow-up of a newly detected heart murmur. Echocardiography raised the suspicion of a coronary anomaly, but the diagnosis was unclear, so cardiac catheterization and computed tomography were performed, which posteriorly confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent surgical repair, and the short-term follow-up has been uneventful. Regular monitoring is essential due to the potential long-term complications of ARCAPA, including myocardial ischemia, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and continuous management.
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