Anomalous origin of RCA from left coronary sinus presenting as PSVT and recurrent acute coronary syndromes

Secondary coronary artery ostial lesions: Three case reports

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of coronary artery ostial lesions seen clinically. Secondary coronary artery ostial lesions are rare, and cases reported previously were associated with syphilitic vasculitis and aortic dissection. Here, we report three rare cases of secondary coronary ostial lesions. Due to their rareness, these lesions can easily be neglected, which may lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

CASE SUMMARY

We present three patients with acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina caused by secondary coronary artery ostial lesions. In Case 1, coronary angiography (CAG) revealed 90% stenosis of the left main coronary ostium. Chest contrast computed tomography (CT) suggested thymic carcinoma invading the left main coronary ostium. Coronary artery bypass grafting and tumor resection were performed. In Case 2, echocardiography revealed a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA)-like dilatation. CAG showed a right coronary sinus giant aneurysm and complete obstruction of the right coronary artery (RCA) ostium. Aortic contrast CT confirmed these findings. The Bentall procedure was performed. In Case 3, CT CAG identified an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (AORCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva coursing between the aorta and pulmonary trunk, causing severe RCA ostium stenosis by compression. Surgical correction of the AORCA was performed.

CONCLUSION

The cases reported here suggest that we should consider other causes of coronary ostial lesions other than atherosclerosis.

A Case of Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery from the Left Sinus of Valsalva with a Malignant Course

Congenital heart disease in adults, including congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, can be asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally, but they can also be a cause of sudden cardiac death. The recent guidelines on the management of adults with congenital heart disease from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiologists (ACC) identify that an anomalous coronary artery origin can lead to myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death. When the course of the coronary artery runs between the aorta and pulmonary trunk, it is described as having a "malignant course." Emergency surgical correction is required to restore the normal anatomy of the aberrant coronary artery. This report is of a 57-year-old man with a history of hypertension who had a normal electrocardiogram (ECG). A nuclear exercise stress test showed a resting and exercise ejection fraction (EF) of 56% with transient ischemic dilatation (TID) of the left ventricle. Coronary artery computed tomography angiography (CTA) identified an anomalous right coronary artery (AORCA) originating from the left sinus of Valsalva and coursing between the aorta and pulmonary trunk. TID on nuclear imaging is usually associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, microvascular disease, or multivessel macrovascular disease and has not been previously described in AORCA.