Coronary Artery Anomalies of Intrinsic Arterial Anatomy

A major group of coronary anomalies includes anomalies of intrinsic coronary arterial anatomy. These consist of congenital ectasia or aneurysmal dilation of the artery, absence or hypoplasia of an artery, intramyocardial segments or myocardial “bridge,” and anomalous distributions. Multiple forms of anomalies of distribution have been described. These are generally considered benign and their major significance lies in the fact that they may result in peculiar wall motion abnormalities or unusual electrocardiographic findings when involved in an acute myocardial infarction. For instance, the posterior descending artery may originate from the left anterior descending artery and thus, acute occlusion of the LAD may result in inferior ST-segment elevation in addition to anterior ST elevation and lead to wall motion abnormalities in the inferior wall as well as the anterior segments. Patients with ectopic origin of the first septal perforator from the right coronary artery may have a septal infarction pattern on ECG despite a right coronary occlusion.

You Will Learn

• To describe the findings and significance of coronary artery bridges

• To identify and assess clinical significance of coronary artery fistulas

• To recognize normal variants of coronary artery course and distribution