Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery: Cinematic Volume Rendering Technique for Enhanced Anatomic
Shuo Liang1, Kun Zhang1, Hong Zhang1
1Department of Radiology, Chest Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300222, China.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart defect. Advanced imaging diagnosed ALCAPA in an elderly patient, highlighting the value of CCTA in rare adult coronary anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly.
- Survival into adulthood with ALCAPA is exceptional.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of ALCAPA diagnosed in an elderly patient.
- To highlight the utility of advanced coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) techniques in diagnosing rare coronary anomalies.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis of ALCAPA using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
- Utilized curved planar reformation and cinematic volume rendering technique (cVRT) for visualization.
- Employed photorealistic three-dimensional reconstruction for enhanced understanding.
Main Results:
- ALCAPA was diagnosed in a 66-year-old woman presenting with chest and back pain.
- Advanced CCTA visualization facilitated understanding of the anomalous coronary origin.
- Conservative management was chosen due to patient age and collateral circulation.
Conclusions:
- Advanced CCTA visualization is valuable for diagnosing rare coronary anomalies in elderly patients.
- This case demonstrates the possibility of adult survival with ALCAPA.
- Effective imaging aids in understanding and communicating complex cardiac anatomy.
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