The role of echocardiography in anomalous origin of coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA): Simple tool for a complex diagnosis

Abstract

Anomalous origin of coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare coronary anomaly usually presenting in the first year of life. Adult presentation suggests a wide range of differential diagnosis such as myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease. We have presented here the major distinctive echocardiographic features of ALCAPA through 4 cases. Since echocardiography is often used as the first imaging modality in these clinical scenarios, recognizing the characteristics of ALCAPA in a routine echocardiographic examination can transform a readily available, low‐cost tool into a valuable discriminative modality.

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery Syndrome: A Case Report in a 49-Year-Old Woman

“…Several imaging modalities can be utilized for diagnosis. Echocardiography reveals the dilated origin of the RCA from the aorta with a suggestive ratio of RCA to aorta >0. originates from the aorta can be difficult to visualize on transthoracic echocardiography [5]. Although DSA is the gold standard in coronary diseases, this invasive procedure is not appropriate for all patients.…”