Coronary MRA: use in assessing anomalies of coronary artery origin.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to describe the use of coronary MR angiography (MRA) in the clinical evaluation of a series of patients with anomalous origin of the coronary arteries suspected on coronary angiography.

METHOD: Eight patients underwent coronary MRA to further define variant coronary anatomy that was found on coronary angiography. A 2D segmented k-space gradient echo sequence was used with breath-holding. MRA images were assessed for traversal of an anomalous artery between the aorta and pulmonary artery trunks, which carries the greatest clinical significance.

RESULTS

Of six patients with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery on angiography, two were shown by MRA to have an interarterial course of the anomalous vessel. Neither of two left coronary arteries with ectopic origin coursed between the great arteries, although one passed through the septum.

CONCLUSION

Coronary MRA is a useful adjunctive technique to angiography in the evaluation of the relationship of anomalous coronary arteries to the great arteries.