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Coronary artery anatomy and variants

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Abstract

Variants and congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries are usually asymptomatic, but may present with severe chest pain or cardiac arrest. The introduction of multidetector CT coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) allows the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis. Improved performance with isotropic spatial resolution and higher temporal resolution provides a valid alternative to conventional coronary angiography (CCA) in many patients. MDCT-CA is now considered the ideal tool for three-dimensional visualization of the complex and tortuous anatomy of the coronary arteries. With multiplanar and volume-rendered reconstructions, MDCT-CA may even outperform CCA in determining the relative position of vessels, thus providing a better view of the coronary vascular anatomy. The purpose of this review is to describe the normal anatomy of the coronary arteries and their main variants based on MDCT-CA with appropriate reconstructions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, University of Verona, P. le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Roberto Malagò, Andrea Pezzato, Camilla Barbiani, Ugolino Alfonsi, Lisa Nicolì, Giuliana Caliari & Roberto Pozzi Mucelli

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  1. Roberto Malagò
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  2. Andrea Pezzato
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  3. Camilla Barbiani
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  4. Ugolino Alfonsi
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  5. Lisa Nicolì
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  6. Giuliana Caliari
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  7. Roberto Pozzi Mucelli
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Correspondence to Roberto Malagò.

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Malagò, R., Pezzato, A., Barbiani, C. et al. Coronary artery anatomy and variants. Pediatr Radiol 41, 1505–1515 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2218-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2218-9

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