[Anomalous origin of the coronary arteries: five case reports and review of the literature].
BACKGROUND
Although individual patient outcomes are highly variable, coronary artery anomalies may be associated with sudden cardiac death or acute coronary syndrome.


METHODS
We report 5 cases of anomalous origin of coronary arteries: a single coronary artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, a case of isolated anomalous right coronary artery originating separately from the left sinus of Valsalva, a case of right coronary artery originating between the right and left sinus of Valsalva, a case of anomalous left circumflex artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, and a case of anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva.


RESULTS
Although in one case the right coronary artery runned between the aorta and the right pulmonary artery, no significant alterations due to coronary artery compression or atheromatous lesions at the anomalous coronary ostia were observed. In all reported cases, symptoms were different as a result of cardiovascular comorbidities. All coronary anomalies were identified at coronary angiography, which was performed for other indications.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of a clear correlation between symptoms and coronary artery anomalies seems challenging in clinical practice. However, it is crucial to confirm or rule out the presence of coronary compression caused by the anomalous origin of coronary arteries.
Divisione di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi, Bari. fiorella.annalisa@gmail.com
Annalisa
A
Fiorella
Pierangelo
P
Basso
Saverio
S
Lanzone
Francesco
F
Capestro
Domenica P
DP
Basile
Donato
D
Quagliara
Marco Matteo
MM
Ciccone
Stefano
S
Favale
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*