ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) may occur in middle age population without any cardiovascular risk factor. We retrospectively evaluated anatomic features of 11 patients with SCAD using a coronary arteries computed tomography (CCT), compared to age and sex balanced patients who underwent CCT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CCT was performed in 11 patients (7 females and 4 males) as follow-up in patients with SCAD (left anterior descending - LAD or circumflex artery - Cx) and compared, using the propensity score matching analysis, with 11 healthy patients. Several anatomic features were evaluated: Left main (LM) length, angle between descending coronary artery (LAD) and its first branch, angle between LAD and LM, distance from the annulus to RCA (a-RCA distance) and LM (a-LM distance) ostia and their ratio; ratio between LM length and length a-LM and tortuosity score of the vessel with SCAD. A fluid dynamic analysis has been performed to evaluate the effects on shear stress of vessels wall. RESULTS: LM length was significantly shorter in patients with SCAD versus healthy subjects (P=0.01) as well as LM length/a-LM (P=0.03) and the angle between LAD and the first adjacent branch was sharper (P<0.01). Tortuosity score showed a statistically significant difference between groups (P<0.001). Fluid dynamic analysis demonstrates that, in SCAD group, an angle<90 degree is present at the first bifurcation and it can be a cause of increased strain on vessel wall in patients with high tortuosity of coronary artery. CONCLUSION: Tortuosity and angle between the LAD and the adjacent arterial branch combined may determine increased shear stress on the vessel wall that increases the risk of SCAD.
Subject(s)
Computed Tomography Angiography , Coronary Angiography/methods , Coronary Vessel Anomalies/diagnostic imaging , Propensity Score , Vascular Diseases/congenital , Age Factors , Case-Control Studies , Coronary Vessel Anomalies/etiology , Coronary Vessel Anomalies/physiopathology , Coronary Vessels/diagnostic imaging , Coronary Vessels/pathology , Coronary Vessels/physiopathology , Female , Hemorheology/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sex Factors , Vascular Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Vascular Diseases/etiology , Vascular Diseases/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Castleman's disease is an uncommon benign B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. According to lymph nodes distribution, there are two distinct subtypes of disease: unicentric and multicentric. Unicentric Castleman's disease is more common, localized to one site, and locally treated. On the contrary, multicentric form is a rare systemic disease characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy and inflammatory symptoms. We report three cases of persons that were initially suspected to have a lymphoma but were later histologically confirmed to have Multicentric Castleman's Disease. In addition, our work aims to investigate the role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in evaluation of this rare condition.
