Imaging of congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries

Diagn Interv Imaging. 2016 May;97(5):561-9. doi: 10.1016/j.diii.2016.03.009. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract

Congenital abnormalities of the coronary arteries are extremely variable and include anomalies of their origin (atresia, anomalies of origin from the aorta or from the pulmonary artery), the course of the epicardiac coronary branches (intramural, myocardial bridge) and distal connections (coronary-cardiac chamber fistulae). In pediatric practice, the diagnosis relies on ultrasound which should be supplemented by additional cardiac imaging in most cases. Multidetector CT is the most widely used imaging technique to identify abnormal courses and relationships with the greater vessels. In this paper, the important diagnostic and prognostic features in the interpretation of coronary imaging in pediatric practice is discussed.

Keywords: Cardiac imaging; Congenital malformations; Coronary CT; Coronary arteries; Pediatrics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aorta, Thoracic / abnormalities
  • Aorta, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aorta, Thoracic / embryology
  • Aorta, Thoracic / surgery
  • Cardiac Imaging Techniques / methods*
  • Child
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / embryology
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / surgery
  • Echocardiography
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / embryology
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery