title: Prevalence of myocardial bridging and correlation with coronary atherosclerosis studied with 64-slice CT coronary angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and to evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 277 patients (mean age 60+/-11 years) we consecutively examined with 64-slice MSCT-CA for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis were retrospectively reviewed for myocardial bridging. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for atherosclerotic plaque, as were the remaining coronary segments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myocardial bridging was present in 82 patients (30%, mean age 59+/-12). Bridges were of variable length (<1 cm 58%; 1-2 cm 32%; >2 cm 10%) and depth (superficial 69%, intramyocardial 31%) and frequently localised in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending artery (95%). Myocardial bridging cannot be considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.49) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary segments proximal to the bridge showed no atherosclerotic disease (33%), positive remodelling (27%), <50% stenosis (20%) or >50% stenosis (20%). We identified 12 noncalcified, 32 mixed and 17 calcified plaques. The distal segments were significantly less affected (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSCT-CA is a reliable, noninvasive method that is able to depict myocardial bridging and associated atherosclerotic plaque in the proximal segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, DIBIMEL, University Hospital P. Giaccone, Via del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo, Italy. ludovicolagrutta@hotmail.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Runza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo Re
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alaimo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grassedonio
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Bartolotta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malagò
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Maria
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagalla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054084:Myocardial Bridging / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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