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Coronary variants and anomalies: Methodology of visualisation with 64-slice CT and prevalence in 202 consecutive patients

Varianti ed anomalie coronariche: metodologia di visualizzazione mediante TC a 64 strati e prevalenza in 202 pazienti consecutivi

  • Cardiac Radiology Cardioradiologia
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide the tools for a complete anatomical evaluation of the coronary tree using 64-slice computed tomography (CT) and evaluate the prevalence of anatomical variants and anomalies in a population of 202 consecutive patients.

Materials and methods

Two hundred and two patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice CT with a standard protocol. Two observers working in consensus evaluated and collected the data regarding anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary vessels.

Results

In the 202 consecutive patients, the prevalence of anatomical variants was: left dominant circulation (7%), absent left main (5%), presence of intermediate branch (17%), aortic origin of conus branch (13%) and circumflex origin of sinus node branch (15%). Coronary anomalies (origin and course, intrinsic and termination) showed an overall prevalence of 25%.

Conclusions

CT is the ideal method for the three-dimensional evaluation of the coronary tree. Anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary arteries are quite common and should be known and recognised promptly by the operators.

Riassunto

Obiettivo

Fornire gli strumenti per una completa valutazione anatomica del circolo coronarico mediante TC a 64 strati e valutare la prevalenza di varianti ed anomalie in una popolazione di 202 pazienti consecutivi.

Materiali e metodi

Duecentodue pazienti con sospetta malattia coronarica sono stati sottoposti a TC delle coronarie a 64 strati con protocollo standard. Due osservatori in consenso hanno valutato la presenza di varianti anatomiche e anomalie dei vasi coronarici.

Risultati

Nei 202 pazienti consecutivi arruolati per lo studio la prevalenza delle varianti anatomiche è risultata: dominanza sinistra (7%), tronco comune assente (5%), presenza di ramo intermedio (17%), origine aortica del ramo del cono (13%), origine dalla circonflessa dell’arteria del nodo del seno (15%). Le anomalie coronariche di origine e decorso, intrinseche e di terminazione hanno mostrato una prevalenza complessiva del 25%.

Conclusioni

La TC è uno strumento ideale per la valutazione tridimensionale del circolo coronarico. Le varianti e le anomalie coronariche sono un reperto molto comune che deve quindi essere riconosciuto agevolmente dall’operatore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Radiologia e Dipartimento Cuore, Imaging Cardiovascolare Non invasivo, Azienda Ospedaliera di Parma, Parma, Italy

    F. Cademartiri, A. Palumbo & E. Maffei

  2. Dipartimento di Radiologia e Cardiologia, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    F. Cademartiri, R. Malagò, L. La Grutta, F. Alberghina, A. Palumbo, F. Pugliese, N. R. Mollet & G. P. Krestin

  3. Dipartimento di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy

    R. Malagò

  4. DIBIMEL, Sezione di Scienze Radiologiche, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    L. La Grutta, F. Alberghina, G. Runza & M. Midiri

  5. Unità Operativa di Riabilitazione Cardiovascolare, Fondazione Don Gnocchi ONLUS, Parma, Italy

    V. Brambilla

Authors
  1. F. Cademartiri
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  2. R. Malagò
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  3. L. La Grutta
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  4. F. Alberghina
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  5. A. Palumbo
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  6. E. Maffei
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  7. V. Brambilla
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  8. F. Pugliese
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  9. G. Runza
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  10. M. Midiri
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  11. N. R. Mollet
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  12. G. P. Krestin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Cademartiri.

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Cademartiri, F., Malagò, R., Grutta, L.L. et al. Coronary variants and anomalies: Methodology of visualisation with 64-slice CT and prevalence in 202 consecutive patients. Radiol med 112, 1117–1131 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0210-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0210-0

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