Coronary artery aneurysms detected by computed tomography coronary angiography

Aims: Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are incidentally revealed by coronary angiography and consist in a localized dilation of a coronary artery. Although invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is the gold standard imaging technique, it can lead to the underestimation of CAAs diameter in presence of parietal thrombi. Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a very sensitive tool in CAAs detection and provides a clear visualization of coronary lumen highlighting intraluminal thrombi.

Methods and results: We retrospectively reviewed 390 CTCA performed at our institution, 9 patients (6 men, 3 women) resulted affected by CAAs and represented the aneurysmal group (A group). Matched controls were identified among the non-aneurysmal patients with healthy coronaries to CTCA (NAH group). Clinical variables and imaging findings were compared and correlated. CAAs prevalence in our population was 2.31%. 15 CAAs were detected, mainly on the right coronary artery (RCA) (9 aneurysms) followed by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (three aneurysms) and the left circumflex coronary artery (CX) (three aneurysms). In six patients (66.7%) CTCA displayed an aneurysmal thrombosis and in 5 patients (55.5%) CAAs were associated to coronary artery stenoses. A statistically significant difference was found between the diameters of coronary vessels measured in healthy segments in A and NAH group.

Conclusions: CTCA has led to a non-invasive estimation of CAAs prevalence and characterization of aneurysmal features and coronary anatomy. Overcoming ICA limitations, CTCA has provided a fine analysis of the aneurysms, also in presence of intraluminal thrombi.