title: Multislice coronary angiotomography in the assessment of coronary artery anomalous origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anomalous origin of coronary arteries is a relatively rare entity, which may show different clinical forms and develop an adverse outcome. Multislice coronary angiotomography has gained importance in daily clinical practice, representing an important patient assessment method with great potential in the anatomical evaluation of these arteries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe angiotomographic findings and evolution of patients with anomalous origin of coronary arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2008 to March 2011 404 patients were evaluated consecutively, who had been referred for coronary angiotomography for several reasons, with a mean follow-up of 21 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (2.2%) had anomalous origin of coronary arteries, of which four had an anomalous origin of the Circumflex (Cx) artery in the Right Coronary Artery (RCA), two had anomalous origin of the RCA (one originating from the Cx and one in the left coronary sinus), a patient with single coronary trunk (anterior descending and Cx out of the left coronary sinus), one had anomalous left main coronary artery trajectory between the aorta and pulmonary artery and one patient with left coronary trunk originating from the right coronary sinus. Of the evaluated patients, one received an implantable cardiodefibrillator; one died due to sudden death during hospitalization; and the others showed no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multislice coronary angiotomography represents minimally invasive assessment method that allows detecting the origin, course and termination of anomalous coronary arteries with excellent accuracy, allowing the correct diagnosis and aiding therapeutic planning.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Mater Dei, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. danielrabelo@cardiol.br
authors.forename: Daniel Rocha
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.forename: Márcio Vinicius Lins
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo Pereira
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Cristiane Carneiro C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Helena Albernaz
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012850:Sinus of Valsalva / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*