Anomalous left coronary artery with single ostium (Shared with Right Coronary Artery) detected by echocardiography: Two case reports

Abstract

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) from the inappropriate sinus of Valsalva has received increasing attention due to its association with malignant cardiac events in otherwise healthy and asymptomatic individuals. Despite this, we still face tremendous challenges in detecting the anomalies in a timely fashion to prevent sudden cardiac death. Here, we present two cases of anomalous left coronary artery with single ostium (shared with right coronary artery); in patients with normal cardiac function. The diagnosis of AAOCA in both cases was first suspected on transthoracic echocardiography and was later established using either coronary computed tomography angiography or invasive coronary angiography. Although angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing AAOCA, echocardiography is a more frequently used imaging modality in the workup of cardiac patients.