A Case of 3Cs: Coronary Artery Calcification Masquerading as a Stent on Chest X-ray

Abstract

Coronary artery calcification in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with increased major adverse cardiovascular events. They are usually diagnosed on a computed tomography scan or on an invasive coronary angiography. A 60-year-old male was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome after presentation with one month of worsening angina. Coronary angiography showed triple vessel disease (mid left anterior descending artery and mid right coronary artery having total occlusion and a 70% stenosis in the left circumflex artery). Apart from this, there was a heavily calcified right coronary artery with a C configuration evident on fluoroscopy. A computed tomography coronary angiography was done to visualize the distal vessels. The calcium score was 5988. Retrospectively, on inspection of the chest X-ray, there was calcification on the right heart border. The patient was medically managed and referred to a cardiothoracic vascular surgeon for coronary artery bypass grafting. Coronary artery calcification on X-ray is rare and hence being presented along with the review of the literature.