Contrast Echo-A Simple Diagnostic Tool for a Coronary Artery Fistula.
10.4070/kcj.2012.42.3.205
- Author:
Suk Min HONG
1
;
Se Jung YOON
;
Se Joong RIM
Author Information
1. Cardiology Division, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea. drpuooh@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Coronary artery fistula;
Echocardiography;
Contrast agent
- MeSH:
Aortography;
Coronary Angiography;
Coronary Vessels;
Dyspnea;
Echocardiography;
Female;
Fistula;
Humans;
Middle Aged;
Pulmonary Artery;
Stress, Psychological
- From:Korean Circulation Journal
2012;42(3):205-207
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Coronary artery fistulas have been diagnosed with aortography, coronary angiography, and coronary computed tomography (CT). A large fistula can be occasionally found as a mass lesion on echocardiography but cannot be easily confirmed. Here, we report a new diagnostic approach to coronary artery fistulas using a contrast agent and transthoracic echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography of a 46-year-old female suffering from dyspnea revealed suspicious small turbulent flow in the main pulmonary artery. Following infusion of a contrast agent, we found whitish flow in the main pulmonary artery during the diastolic phase, and aortic CT revealed two huge right coronary artery fistulas in the main pulmonary artery. A simple diagnostic approach to a coronary artery fistula using contrast agent helped us confirm the diagnosis because of the typical diastolic whitish flow in the pulmonary artery.
