title: Clinical and morphological evaluation of coronary bifurcation lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the anatomical and morphological characterization of coronary bifurcation lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 542 stable patients who underwent coronary angiography. Bifurcation lesions were defined as a lesion >=50% diameter stenosis involving a main branch and/or contiguous side branch with a diameter of >=2.5 mm. Using these criteria, the presence and number of bifurcation lesions, bifurcation lesion location, lesion classification according to Medina classification and the angle of the bifurcation lesion were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the bifurcation definition 19.3% (n=105) of our patients had bifurcation lesions. In 77% of all bifurcation lesions, the bifurcation angle was <70°. About 37% of all lesions were concordant with the Medina 1.1.1 classification. Approximately 56% of bifurcation lesions were in the LAD region, 25.4% in the Cx region, and 12.5% in the RCA region. Medina 1.1.1 was the most frequently observed in the LAD and RCA regions, while it was least common in the Cx and LMCA regions. Diabetes was observed to be significantly higher in those with bifurcation lesions than in those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bifurcation lesions are frequently observed in coronary angiography practice. Angiographic characteristics and the relationship of these lesions with clinical conditions may be a crucial factor in choosing the appropriate interventional procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey. drmustafakurt@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Ibrahim Halil
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Tanboğa
authors.forename: Mehmet Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Karakaş
authors.forename: Eyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Büyükkaya
authors.forename: Adnan Burak
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Akçay
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Enbiya
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aksakal
mesh_terms: D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications