Key result
Cardiac CT offers a highly sensitive, noninvasive alternative to invasive catheterization for detecting coronary anomalies.
Cardiac CT provides a noninvasive, low-risk, and highly sensitive method for identifying potentially fatal congenital coronary anomalies, replacing the historical need for invasive catheterization.
Supports cardiac CT for noninvasive coronary anomaly detection; leaves open prospective validation versus catheterization.
Cardiac CT has become widely available as a diagnostic test. It is noninvasive, low risk (for contrast allergies), quick, and highly sensitive for identifying the coronary origins and course. Two coronary anomalies, the left main artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, and the right coronary artery originating from the left sinus, have been associated both with myocardial ischemia and sudden cardiac death when they course between the aorta and pulmonary arteries. These anomalies can go undetected into adulthood. The yield of noninvasive exercise testing is low. In the past, the ability to demonstrate these anomalies depended on a high index of suspicion and an aggressive invasive work-up with cardiac catheterization. Now cardiac CT can demonstrate these anomalies with ease and facilitate appropriate treatment.
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Rommel et al. (2007) conducted a review in Coronary anomalies. Cardiac CT vs. Invasive cardiac catheterization was evaluated. Cardiac CT provides a noninvasive, low-risk, and highly sensitive method for identifying coronary anomalies compared to traditional invasive cardiac catheterization.
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