Acute coronary syndrome due to high aortocoronary junction of the right coronary artery: The value of multislice CT

High aortocoronary junction of the right coronary artery (RCA) above the sinus of Valsalva is not rare. There is controversy whether it is a benign finding or a life threatening condition. A 47-year-old male, who had recurrent acute coronary syndrome underwent coronary arteriogram twice showing only an aberrant origin of the RCA ostium from the left coronary cuspid. Sixty-four cut multislice computed tomogram (MSCT) of the coronary arteries showed the RCA ostium taking off above the right sinus of Valsalva. The RCA then shifted leftward and coursed between the great vessels. Compression of its proximal segment as it passed between the aorta and pulmonary artery explained the recurrent coronary attack. High take-off of the RCA ostium above its cuspid should be considered a risk factor for acute coronary attack under certain conditions. MSCT is valuable in providing better spatial images compared to the more invasive conventional coronary arteriography. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.