Multiple giant coronary artery aneurysms: a case report

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery aneurysm is defined as a localized area of dilatation exceeding the diameter of the adjacent normal arterial segment by 50%. Giant aneurysms are those aneurysms that measure greater than 2cm in diameter. There have been many pathologic diseases, including atherosclerosis, that have been implicated in the development of coronary artery aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report a case of a 61-year-old African American male with multiple comorbidities including hypertension, congestive heart failure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and bilateral iliac aneurysms, who was admitted to our hospital with exacerbation of congestive heart failure. Less than 2weeks after admission, the patient suffered cardiac arrest while receiving dialysis and was unresponsive to resuscitative measures.

FINDINGS

Autopsy was performed and revealed significant cardiomyopathy and giant coronary artery aneurysms involving the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary arteries. Both ventricles showed hypertrophy and dilation with multifocal areas of chronic myocardial scarring.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary artery aneurysms and giant coronary artery aneurysms are an uncommon. As there are few reported cases in the literature, the cause, detection, and treatment of this disease are still largely unknown.