Coronary variants and anomalies: methodology of visualisation with 64-slice CT and prevalence in 202 consecutive patients.

PURPOSE: This paper aims to provide the tools for a complete anatomical evaluation of the coronary tree using 64-slice computed tomography (CT) and evaluate the prevalence of anatomical variants and anomalies in a population of 202 consecutive patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Two hundred and two patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice CT with a standard protocol. Two observers working in consensus evaluated and collected the data regarding anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary vessels.

RESULTS

In the 202 consecutive patients, the prevalence of anatomical variants was: left dominant circulation (7%), absent left main (5%), presence of intermediate branch (17%), aortic origin of conus branch (13%) and circumflex origin of sinus node branch (15%). Coronary anomalies (origin and course, intrinsic and termination) showed an overall prevalence of 25%.

CONCLUSIONS

CT is the ideal method for the three-dimensional evaluation of the coronary tree. Anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary arteries are quite common and should be known and recognised promptly by the operators.