Frequency of coronary artery anomalies in adult cardiology practice; an angiographic study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper was to measure the frequency of various coronary artery anomalies in our patient population who underwent coronary angiography for various indications. The data was collected retrospectively by analyzing the angiographic data of 13,615 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography between January 2008 and June 2012. Coronary artery anomalies were found in 305 patients [prevalence of 2.2%]. Among these patients, 186 [61.12%] were male and 119[39%] were female. Two hundred and ninety two [95.7%]anomalies were benign and 13[4.2%] were potentially of dangerous nature. Anomalies of the right coronary artery [RCA] in decreasing order of frequency included ectopic RCA from right sinus of valsalva [RSV] 54 [17.7%], coronary ectasia /aneurysm 24[7.8%], fistula 13[4.2%], RCA from left sinus of valsalva[LSV] with anomalous course 11[3.6%] and split RCA 3 [0.98%]. Anomalies of the left coronary artery[LAD] in decreasing order of frequency included myocardial bridge 71[23.3%], separate origin of LAD and circumflex from LSV [absent left main trunck] 58[19.02%], circumflex arising from RSV with anomalous course 28[9.18%], coronary ectasia/ aneurysm 23[7.54%], fistula 14[4.5%], LAD arising from RSV withanomalous course 3[0.98%], LCA arising from RSV with anomalous course[retroaortic] 1[0.32%] and single coronary artery 2[0.66%]. The prevalence and the pattern of coronary artery anomalies in our patient population were almost identical to previous studies. Cardiologists should be aware of the coronary anomalies because of its potential for serious cardiac events and its importance in interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery practice