title: Defining anatomic variants of the coronary artery in taiwanese subjects using 64-multidetector-row computed tomography.
abstract: The newly developed 64-multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) prompted us to evaluate coronary angiography using this noninvasive method. We reviewed 281 images of MDCT coronary angiography in Taiwanese. The origins of the coronary arteries were identified from the luminal aspect of the aorta. We described them as seen from the aortic sinus looking toward the cardiac ventricle. The sinus facing the left ventricle was designated sinus 1, and that facing the right ventricle was designated sinus 2. Anatomic variants of the coronary artery were divided into five types according to the structure of the left anterior descending artery, right coronary artery, and left circumflex artery. Of the 281 patients, 275 (97.9%) had the type I variant in which the right coronary artery originated from sinus 2. MDCT provides advantages in defining anatomic variation and helps in the planning of clinical therapy or surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ting-Kai
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wei-Hsing
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Li-Kuo
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ya-Yen
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*