Radiologia Brasileira - Publicação Científica Oficial do Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia

INTRODUCTION

Anomalies of the coronary arteries are rare, present only in 1.3% of the population. However, approximately 20% are worrying as they potentially result in acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, or sudden death⁽¹⁾. These anomalies can be categorized by origin, course, and termination. Among the anomalies related to the risk of sudden death, the following stand out: single coronary artery; ostial atresia; coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery; large fistulae; and interarterial course with a coronary origin.

With advances in image acquisition techniques, multidetector computed tomography (CT) angiography has become a well-established method for evaluating coronary arteries (degree I recommendation and a B level of evidence, according to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology)⁽²⁾. Multidetector CT angiography is considered superior to conventional angiography for defining the origin and course of anomalous coronary branches⁽³⁾. With CT angiography, it is possible to acquire high-resolution images of the entire course of the coronary artery, as well as of potentially associated coronary atherosclerotic involvement, allowing potentially fatal alterations to be identified and facilitating therapeutic planning^(4-6).

The objective of this study is to show the importance of CT angiography in characterizing anomalous coronary arteries originating from the contralateral (noncoronary) sinus with an interarterial course, helping radiologists recognize and describe this important finding.


NORMAL ANATOMY

As depicted in Figure 1, the right coronary artery (RCA) arises from the anterior right coronary sinus, slightly below the left coronary artery (LCA), with a course immediately to the right of and posterior to the pulmonary artery, descending through the right atrioventricular sulcus toward the posterior interventricular septum⁽³⁾. The LCA originates from the left posterior coronary sinus, is 5-10 cm in length, and does not vary significantly in diameter. It courses to the left of and posterior to the pulmonary trunk, thereafter bifurcating into the anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries⁽³⁾.




INTERARTERIAL COURSE OF ANOMALOUS CORONARY ARTERIES ORIGINATING FROM THE CONTRALATERAL (NONCORONARY) SINUS

As can be seen in Figure 1, the left and right arteries can both originate from the contralateral sinus, constituting anomalies of origin and course. In a previous study involving patients undergoing angiography, it was observed that the RCA originated from the left sinus of Valsalva as a separate vessel or as a branch of a single coronary artery in 0.03-0.17% of the patients⁽³⁾. The LCA was also observed to originate from the right sinus of Valsalva as a separate vessel or single branch of the coronary artery in 0.09-0.11% of the cases, and an interarterial course was seen in more than 75% of the patients with that anomaly⁽³⁾.

Although the RCA originating from the left coronary sinus is more prevalent and related to a better prognosis, it is known to be a high risk of sudden death among patients with LCA of anomalous origin from the right sinus⁽⁷⁾. In the latter cases, the therapeutic decision-making process is complex and still controversial, given the importance of associated symptoms, ischemia, as detected by functional methods, and, more recently, the type of interarterial course found.


RCA

Figures 2, 3, and 4 show examples of anomalous origin of the RCA. The most common course of an anomalous RCA that arises from the sinus of Valsalva is interarterial (between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk). This variant is associated with sudden death in up to 30% of patients⁽³⁾. In such cases, it is believed that the dilation of the aorta during physical exercise can narrow the anomalous ostium, reducing blood flow in the coronary artery predisposing to ischemic myocardial alterations⁽⁷⁾.




When the RCA originates anomalously from the left coronary sinus and has an interarterial course, the height of its path in relation to the pulmonary valve can have different prognostic implications, with consequent stratification of risk and treatment. According to the finding on CT angiography, the interarterial course of the RCA is classified as either "high" or "low". A high course/outflow tract predisposes the patient to more adverse effects, such as angina and sudden death, and requires more attention on the part of the radiologist. This is due to the fact that, during systole, both vessels adjacent to the coronary artery (the aorta and pulmonary artery) dilate, narrowing the channel through which the anomalous coronary artery passes, a phenomenon that is aggravated during physical exercise. Conversely, when the interarterial course is low, the right ventricular outflow tract contracts during systole, counterbalancing the systolic expansion of the aorta and creating less narrowing in the coronary arterial course between the right ventricular outflow tract and the aorta⁽⁸⁾, as depicted in Figure 5.




LCA

An interarterial course of the LCA can be seen in more than 75% of patients with an LCA originating from the right sinus (as a separate vessel or as a branch of a single coronary artery) (Figure 6). The high risk of sudden death is due to the acute angle of the ostium, the "stretching" of the intramural segment, and compression between the commissures of the right and left coronary cusps⁽³⁾. Sudden death can result from transient compression of the anomalous LCA course, caused by dilation of the aorta and pulmonary artery, which is in turn caused by the increase in blood flow during intense exercise, thus creating torsion or compression of the coronary artery between the aorta and the right ventricular outflow tract⁽¹⁾.




TREATMENT

Due to the difference in prognosis among these types of anomalies, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend surgical treatment for all patients with an LCA originating from the right sinus, regardless of symptoms or evidence of ischemia⁽⁹⁾. However, according to that same consensus, patients who present with an RCA originating from the left sinus should be submitted to surgical correction only if there is documented ischemia or significant symptomatology⁽⁹⁾.


CONCLUSION

Coronary course anomalies can be observed on CT of the chest and CT angiography of the aorta or pulmonary arteries performed for different reasons. As such anomalies have variable prognoses, radiologists should be familiar with their presentations. A coronary anomaly with an interarterial course constitutes an important incidental finding that must be described and documented.


REFERENCES

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9. Warnes CA, Williams RG, Bashore TM, et al. ACC/AHA 2008 guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines on the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease). Developed in collaboration with the American Society of Echocardiography, Heart Rhythm Society, International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52:e143-e263.










1. Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor/HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5907-0228
2. Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor/HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4614-976X
3. Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor/HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9454-1315
4. Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor/HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8627-3661
5. Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (InCor/HC-FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7131-6614

Correspondence:
Dra. Sharon Rosemberg
InCor/HC-FMUSP
Avenida Doutor Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44, Pinheiros
São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 05403-900
Email: rosemberg.sharon@gmail.com

Received October 30, 2017
Accepted after revision December 22, 2017