A Rare Coronary Anomaly: One Ostium Fits All

Abstract

Coronary anomalies affect a small percentage of the general population. A solitary coronary ostium in the absence of other major congenital anomalies is very rare. We describe a case of a patient, admitted to our cardiology department with an acute myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram shows a solitary ostium originating from the right sinus of Valsalva with the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ventral to the pulmonary artery and the circumflex artery (Cx) following its course retroaortically. The theoretical variant of this type of malformation has been described but has not been reported in a clinical case before. Coronary anomalies are usually detected during coronary angiography, but exact course determination and relationships are difficult to visualize. The use of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) allows visualization of the coronary anatomy in a 3-dimensional image and demonstrated an added value to coronary angiography.

1. Case Report

A 69-year-old male was admitted to our cardiology department because of sudden onset retrosternal pain. His past medical history was unremarkable, and he never had anginal complaints before. His electrocardiogram showed ST-elevations in the inferior and lateral leads and ST-depression over the precordial leads consistent with inferoposterolateral wall myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram was performed immediately and showed a subtotal occlusion of the distal right coronary artery (RCA) in which a bare metal stent was placed. Moreover, the RCA, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and the circumflex artery (Cx) were all originating from a solitary ostium from the right sinus of Valsalva (Figure 1(a)). The path of the LAD is ventral to the pulmonary artery and is not coursing between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. ECG-gated 64-row multislice cardiac computed tomography (CCT) confirmed the course of the coronaries and showed a solitary coronary ostium (Figures 1(d) and 1(e)) with a retroaortic course of the CX (Figures 1(c), 1(d), and 1(e)), the LAD runs ventral to the pulmonary trunk (Figures 1(b), 1(d), and 1(e)), and the RCA courses normally with a stent visible in segment 3 (Figures 1(b), 1(c), and 1(e)). Medical therapy was prescribed and patient was discharged without symptoms.

Figure 1.

(a) Conventional coronary angiogram in left anterior oblique projection picturing three coronary arteries originating from the right sinus of Valsalva. (b) Coloured volume rendering showing the LAD crossing ventral to the pulmonary artery. (c) A three-dimensional reconstruction showing 3 coronary arteries arising from the right sinus of Valsalva. (d) and (e) Contrast-enhanced 64-slice CT coronary angiography showing a solitary coronary ostium with a visible stent in the distal segment of the RCA. (f) Schematic drawing of the coronary anomaly.

2. Discussion

According to the literature, coronary anomalies affect 0.3–5.6 percent of the general population [1]. This variable percentage is derived from angiographic and necropsy studies which are influenced by entry biases and unclear criteria. The incidence of coronary anomalies is clinically relevant in view of the fact that they are the cause of 19% of sudden death in athletes [2]. A solitary coronary ostium in the absence of other major congenital anomalies is very rare with an incidence ranging from 0.019 to 0.4% [3–6]. Anomalous coronary arteries are associated with ischemia and sudden death, which could be the result of compression by the aorta and pulmonary artery. However, ischemia is also reported when an anomalous coronary artery does not run between the great vessels [7]. Our patient has a solitary ostium originating from the right sinus of Valsalva with the LAD ventral to the pulmonary artery and the Cx following its course retroaortically, a variant which has never been reported before. Coronary anomalies are usually detected during coronary angiography, but exact course determination and relationships are difficult to visualize. The use of CCT allows visualization of the entire course of the coronary artery in a 3-dimensional image.

Disclosures

All authors have read and approved the paper and no part of this paper is being published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. There are no conflicts of interest for any of the authors.