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Detection, visualization and evaluation of anomalous coronary anatomy on 16-slice multidetector-row CT

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Abstract

Early identification and evaluation of relatively frequent anomalous coronary anatomy is quite relevant because of the occurrence of sudden cardiac death or related symptoms of myocardial ischemia. Selective coronary angiography (CAG) is invasive, expensive and cannot always provide the required information adequately. Recently, non-invasive imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) have been shown to provide a good anatomical view of the coronary artery tree. This study aims to demonstrate the value of 16-MDCT for evaluation of anomalous coronary anatomy. In 13 patients scanned using 16-MDCT, six different coronary anomalies were diagnosed [two absent left main, one single vessel left coronary artery (LCA), three LCA originating from the right (two with interarterial course), six right coronary artery originating from the left, one double left anterior descending (LAD)]. Mean diagnostic quality, recorded by two observers using a 5-point scale (1= non-diagnostic to 5= excellent diagnostic quality), resulted in a mean score of 3.73 (SD 1.19) without any non-diagnostic result. MDCT offers an accurate diagnostic modality to visualize the origin and course of anomalous coronary arteries by a three-dimensional display of anatomy. Shortcomings in CAG can be overcome by the use of contrast-enhanced MDCT.

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Acknowledgment

Vital Images (Plymouth, MN) is kindly acknowledged for providing us with the Beta release of their Vitrea2 software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Groningen University Hospital, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Peter M. A. van Ooijen, Joost Dorgelo & Matthijs Oudkerk

  2. Thorax Centre, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Felix Zijlstra

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  1. Peter M. A. van Ooijen
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  2. Joost Dorgelo
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  3. Felix Zijlstra
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  4. Matthijs Oudkerk
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Correspondence to Peter M. A. van Ooijen.

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van Ooijen, P.M.A., Dorgelo, J., Zijlstra, F. et al. Detection, visualization and evaluation of anomalous coronary anatomy on 16-slice multidetector-row CT. Eur Radiol 14, 2163–2171 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2493-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2493-z

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