Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Diagnosis by Computed Tomography Angiography: a Case Report

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), defined as separation of the layers of the coronary wall unrelated to trauma, iatrogenesis, or atherosclerosis, often occurs in young women without cardiovascular risk factors.1 First described almost a century ago, it was poorly understood for some time, known only to be associated with the peripartum and pregnancy periods.2 SCAD is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and despite technological advances in invasive or non-invasive imaging tests increasing our understanding of its pathophysiology and treatment, it remains underdiagnosed.1,3 This report describes the case of an ACS patient without obstructive lesions on coronary angiography in which coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was an indispensable tool in the diagnosis of SCAD with an unusual location, highlighting its growing importance based on the current scientific literature.