Lateral origin of the right internal thoracic artery: report of a case

We report herein the unusual case of a patient in whom postoperative angiography following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) revealed a lateral origin of the right internal thoracic artery (ITA) and a normal origin of the left ITA, both of which were demonstrated to be patent and did not follow a tortuous course. The CABG had involved revascularization of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with the right ITA, and the obtuse marginal artery with the left ITA. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and developed no respiratory symptoms.