Case Report: "Dumbbell" giant right coronary artery ectasia with right atrial fistula
Jianggui Shan1, Heng Wang1, Song Xue1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Insights
A rare "dumbbell" shaped giant coronary artery aneurysm was successfully treated. This case highlights the dumbbell shape as a potential precursor to giant coronary aneurysms, emphasizing hydrodynamic influences.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a dilation of coronary arteries, often asymptomatic.
- Giant coronary aneurysms (GCAs) are rare, with limited understanding of their developmental stages.
- Type IV CAE, characterized by localized or segmental dilation, is infrequently visualized with advanced imaging.
Abstract:
A 50-year-old female patient presented with a "dumbbell" giant right coronary artery ectasia, characterized by two artery dilation segments both reaching the level of a giant aneurysm with a normal segment between them. Computed tomography angiography showed a fistula sac in the right atrium. The vessel shape was a typical type IV (localized or segmental) coronary artery ectasia, which is rarely seen on true imaging. The patient had a 3-year history of chest tightness, without dyspnea, worsened by physical activity. Additional tests indicated that she had mitral valve regurgitation, superficial myocardial bridge, and anemia, all of which led to the development of her symptoms. She felt relieved after successful coronary artery fistula repair, mitral valvuloplasty, and fistula sac removal. At the 6-month follow-up, no complications were found according to echocardiography. Patients with coronary aneurysms can be asymptomatic in the early stage, while this case indicates that the dumbbell shape may be a developing stage of giant coronary aneurysm whose origin and close-fistula segments are influenced by separate hydrodynamics during ectasia or aneurysm formation.
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