Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Identifying Anomalous Origin and Course of Coronary Arteries.
10.4070/kcj.1998.28.4.576
- Author:
Kwang Soo CHA
;
Hyeong Kweon KIM
;
Kook Jin CHUN
;
Moo Hyun KIM
;
Young Dae KIM
;
Jong Seong KIM
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anomalous left circumflex coronary artery;
Anomalous right coronary artery;
Transesop-hageal echocardiography
- MeSH:
Adult;
Angina Pectoris;
Angiography;
Atherosclerosis;
Coronary Angiography;
Coronary Vessels*;
Death, Sudden;
Diagnosis;
Echocardiography;
Echocardiography, Transesophageal*;
Humans;
Myocardial Infarction
- From:Korean Circulation Journal
1998;28(4):576-585
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Anomalous origin of a coronary artery is rare, but it can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, or even sudden death in the absence of atherosclerosis. Even when an anomalous vessel is identified angiographically, it may be difficult to delineate its true course on the basis of angiography alone. We attempted to determine whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is of value in making the diagnosis and outlining the course of anomalous left circumflex (LCx) or right coronary arteries (RCA). METHOD: Eight adult patients with anomalous origin of LCx or RCA documented by selective coronary angiography were studied by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and multiplane TEE. RESULTS: Anomalous coronary ostia were visualized in all eight patients by TEE, but in only one with anomalous RCA out of eight patients by TTE. The proximal segments of anomalous coronary vessels were delineated in all eight patients by TEE and in only three with anomalous LCx out of eight patients by TTE. CONCLUSION: TEE is a valuable adjunctive diagnostic tool for the identification of anomalous coronary origin and course and is superior to TTE in adult patients.
