Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Normal variants, CT-Angiography, CT, Cardiac, Arteries / Aorta, Acute
Authors:
T. Guest, V. Shrivastava; Hull/UK
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1025
Background
Since the introduction of multi-detector row CT,
electrocardiographically (ECG)-gated scanning and dedicated reconstruction algorithms,
computed tomography (CT) of the coronary arteries has become a commonly performed diagnostic imaging technique 1.
CT angiography is a non-invasive and accurate method to detect haemodynamically significant proximal coronary artery stenoses,
with a sensitivity between 80-90% 2, 3.
Furthermore,
multi–detector row CT is now an accepted and accurate diagnostic tool for defining coronary artery anomalies,
and may be superior to conventional angiography in defining the ostial origin and proximal path of anomalous coronary branches 4.
Aberrant coronary artery origins are thought to be present in approximately 0.6 - 1% of the population 3, 5,
6.
Detection is important as they are a recognized cause of sudden cardiac death 6,
7,
8, 9 and identification is useful in planning for invasive coronary procedures.
In this educational poster,
we review normal coronary artery anatomy and present our single-centre experience of aberrant coronary artery origins.
These anomalies are thought to be present in approximately 1% of the population.
We illustrate their appearance on multi-detector row CT angiography, and discuss the importance of detection in terms of clinical significance and management.