A Pictorial Essay of Coronary Artery Anomalies on Coronary CT Angiography: A Single-Centre Observational Study

Ahmad, Armeen; Roplekar, Sudeep; Podlasek, Anna

Abstract

Background

Congenital anomalies of the coronary artery anatomy (CAAs) encompass a spectrum of disorders, often asymptomatic but potentially carrying severe clinical implications such as arrhythmia, chest pain, myocardial infarction, or sudden death. The estimated prevalence of CAAs in the general population ranges from 0.3% to 1.3%, with underdiagnosis in asymptomatic individuals. Multidetector computed tomography angiography (CTA) has emerged as a vital non-invasive tool for diagnosing and characterising CAAs, offering improved visualisation and aiding in appropriate management decisions. This study aims to analyse the spectrum of CAAs in a tertiary care setting, focusing on imaging features, prevalence, and potential clinical significance, utilising data from patients who underwent multidetector CTA.

Methodology

A single-centre, retrospective analysis of consecutive coronary angiograms over a five-year period identified patients with CAAs, with imaging conducted using a 128-slice, single-source CT scanner. Detailed imaging evaluation was performed by experienced radiologists, with anomalies classified according to established criteria.

Results

Among 756 coronary CTA examinations analysed, 37 instances of anomalous coronary vessels were identified. The study revealed a diverse range of anomalies, including myocardial bridging, anomalous origin of coronary arteries, and extracardiac abnormalities.

Conclusions

This study contributes valuable insights into the prevalence and imaging features of CAAs, enhancing our understanding of these anomalies and guiding improved patient outcomes in cardiovascular care. Future research should focus on elucidating pathophysiological mechanisms and establishing multicenter registries to address the challenges associated with studying these infrequent but clinically significant anomalies.

[Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024, Ahmad et al.]

Citation

Ahmad, A., Roplekar, S., & Podlasek, A. (2024). A Pictorial Essay of Coronary Artery Anomalies on Coronary CT Angiography: A Single-Centre Observational Study. Cureus, 16(7), Article e64398. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.64398

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Publication Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 2, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 12, 2024
• Journal: Cureus
• Electronic ISSN: 2168-8184
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: e64398
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.64398
• Keywords: retrospective observational study, congenital cardiac anomaly, coronary artery, cardiac anomaly, cardiac ct, congenital heart diseases, ct coronary angiography
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/38898841
• Publisher URL: https://www.cureus.com/articles/261275-a-pictorial-essay-of-coronary-artery-anomalies-on-coronary-ct-angiography-a-single-centre-observational-study#!/