title: Major coronary anomalies in childhood.
abstract: Major coronary artery anomalies are extremely rare in childhood. We wanted to assess the historical and diagnostic features and the therapeutic options of three distinct types of coronary artery anomalies: abnormal origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), coronary fistula and coronary stenosis. In a retrospective study, 33 children with these types of coronary artery disease were identified, 15 with ALCAPA, 12 with fistula and six with coronary stenosis. History, physical examination, ECG, X-ray, echocardiography, angiography, therapy and outcome were reviewed. ALCAPA showed distinct typical echocardiographic characteristics. Coronary artery fistula could be identified by a typical murmur and echocardiographic evidence of coronary dilatations. Coronary stenosis should be suspected by the clinical picture in a specific context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rare coronary artery anomalies can be accurately diagnosed in childhood. Timely therapy yields good prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. daniel.dewolf@rug.ac.be
authors.forename: Daniël
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Wolf
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suys
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matthys
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ottenkamp
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography