The chance finding at multislice computed tomography coronary angiography of an ectopic origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva

Anomalous coronary arteries occur in less than 2% of the general population. Most coronary anomalies are clinically asymptomatic. However some of them may present with chest pain, syncope, heart failure and sudden death. Acute myocardial infarction has been also described. Extravascular coronary compression results in dynamic obstruction which can cause effort angina as well as syncope and anomalous coronary arteries with an inter-arterial course are associated with sudden cardiac death. Anomalous origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva is thought to be of little clinical significance without the presence of severe narrowing of the vessel. Adequate visualization of the anomaly is essential for proper patient management. It has reported the full capability and accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography in the identification and evaluation of the ectopic origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, displaying accurately the origin, size, course, and relationship of the anomalous vessel with respect to surrounding structures. We report a case of chance finding at multislice computed tomography coronary angiography of an ectopic origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva. Also this case focuses attention on the anomalous origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva and confirms the full capability and accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography in its adequate visualization.