Aberrant right coronary artery in an elderly Nigerian with recent dyspnoea detected on coronary CT angiogram

An anomalous origin of the right coronary artery has been documented in up to 0.92% of the general population, which is more common than an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery. We present a case of an elderly hypertensive man who developed mild dyspnoea on exertion for 3 months with associated retro-sternal pain as well as occasional palpitation which all tend to subside at rest. An electrocardiogram showed evidence of left atrial enlargement. A coronary computed tomographic angiogram was acquired with a 160-slice scanner which revealed the right coronary artery to originate from the left aortic sinus with a retro-aortic pattern of anatomical course. Vascular wall calcifications were noted with multilevel luminal narrowing on the left anterior descending however distal opacification was adequate. Our case further depicts the reason for keeping in mind anatomical variations while evaluating cardiac pathologies even among Black Africans.

Three Cases of Familial Moyamoya Disease with RASA1 Mutations-A Case Report

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of moyamoya disease (MMD) is relatively high in East Asia, whereas the susceptibility genes of MMD have not been identified.

METHODS

Here, we reported 3 patients diagnosed with MMD from 1 single family, including a 53-year-old mother (case 1) and her 32-year-old and 29-year-old daughters (cases 2 and 3). The younger daughter was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage. Computed tomographic angiogram showed the typical signs of MMD in 3 patients.

RESULTS

Clinical whole-exome sequencing was performed in 3 daughters of case 1, and RASA1 mutations in chr5: 87,376,389 and NM_002890.2: c.2012-4C > T were determined to have the strongest correlation with MMD. RASA1 mutations were verified in case 1, husband of case 1 and the descendant of case 3 by using Sanger sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the findings of literature review, this is the first study indicating the association between RASA1 mutations and MMD.

Spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage from a lateral posterior choroidal artery aneurysm

BACKGROUND

The authors report a case of lateral posterior choroidal artery pseudoaneurysm that caused a spontaneous thalamic hemorrhage. The case supports obtaining computed tomographic angiography (CTA) even in seemingly routine cases of hypertensive hemorrhage and demonstrates a possibly unreported type of aneurysm causing thalamic hemorrhage.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented with a spontaneous right thalamic hemorrhage, and CTA showed a focus of contrast inside the hematoma. One month later, the patient was well but a CTA showed that the hematoma had resolved but that there was enlargement of the contrast-enhancing lesion in the thalamus. Catheter angiography showed an aneurysm of the lateral posterior choroidal artery. This was excised via an occipital interhemispheric supratentorial subcallosal approach. The patient recovered fully and returned to work 3 months later.

CONCLUSION

The case shows the need to carefully review CTA after ICH, even in cases of seemingly typical hypertensive ICH.