Coronary-to-bronchial artery fistula: demonstration by 64-multidetector computed tomography with retrospective electrocardiogram-gated reconstructions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of coronary-to-bronchial artery fistula (CBF) and clinical significance in 1300 patients examined with 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography.


METHODS
One thousand three hundred ten patients underwent coronary MDCT for atypical chest pain or screening. Volume-rendering and multiplanar reconstruction images were reviewed, and subsequent cineangiographies were compared.


RESULTS
Eight cases of CBF were detected-6 originated from the left circumflex artery, and 2 originated from the right coronary artery. A hypertrophied anomalous branch of left circumflex artery was observed in 1 case, and underlying bronchiectasis was noted. Seven cases had a thin-wall communicating vessel. Subsequent cineangiography revealed identical appearance with MDCT reconstruction images.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of CBF (0.61%) in this study is similar to those of a few cineangiographic studies in the literature. Our study showed that 64-MDCT coronary angiography is an accurate and noninvasive tool for detection of CBF.
Department of Radiology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, GoYang-Si, KyungGi-Do, Korea.
Seung Tae
ST
Lee
Su Young
SY
Kim
Gham
G
Hur
Yoon Joon
YJ
Hwang
Yong Hoon
YH
Kim
Jung Wook
JW
Seo
Soon Joo
SJ
Cha
Won Ro
WR
Lee
D000368:Aged; D001159:Arterio-Arterial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001981:Bronchial Arteries; D002932:Cineangiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*