Type II single coronary artery from right aortic sinus, retro-aortic left coronary artery and dual LAD: a rare association of coronary arterial variations

Surg Radiol Anat. 2023 Mar;45(3):283-287. doi: 10.1007/s00276-022-03064-w. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Abstract

Purpose: The coronary arterial tree has a wide range of possible benign anatomical variations. It is important to differentiate them from coronary arterial anomalies, which can remain asymptomatic or in some cases lead to sudden death if undiagnosed.

Methods: A 42-year-old female patient with a transient ST depression in right precordial leads performed an ECG-gated computed tomography angiography with dual layer spectral CT (IQon Elite Spectral CT, Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) at Circolo Hospital of Varese.

Results: A rare variant was observed and studied: a single common trunk arising from the right sinus of Valsalva which branches into a right coronary artery, a left anterior descending artery with malignant course and a left main with a retroaortic course; the left main gives origin to a dual anterior interventricular artery ("Dual LAD") and a left circumflex artery.

Conclusions: This type of variation was never described in the English literature. Identifying this variant is crucial for potential ischemic complications during sports activities or with the onset of atherosclerotic disease.

Keywords: Coronary arterial tree variation; Double left anterior descending artery; ECG-gated CTA; Malignant anatomical variation; Single coronary artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aorta / pathology
  • Coronary Angiography / methods
  • Coronary Artery Disease*
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / diagnosis
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Sinus of Valsalva* / abnormalities
  • Sinus of Valsalva* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sinus of Valsalva* / pathology