Quantitative analysis of right coronary artery morphology by digital subtraction angiography

Abstract

The right coronary artery (RCA) is a major target for interventional and surgical procedures, but its anatomical variations and normal reference values are not well established. This study aimed to establish the normal distribution values of the length, diameter and angle measurements of the RCA. Angiography images of the RCA of 143 patients were analyzed using digital subtraction angiography techniques. The RCA images of each patient were divided into three sections (Proximal RCA, Middle RCA, Distal RCA) and length and diameter measurements were made separately for each section. In addition, the angles formed between the posterior descending artery (PD) and posterior lateral artery (PL) of the RCA and the lengths and diameters of the PD and PL branches were measured separately. The RCA length-diameter measurements were 1.75-4.7 mm for proximal RCA, 4.75-4.2 mm for middle RCA, and 7.45-3.5 mm for distal RCA. The mean values of the angles formed between RCA-PL, PL-PD (bifurcation angle), and RCA-PD were 144.33±19.22˚, 62.67±18.94˚, 151.40±19.33˚, respectively. Our study provides important epidemiological data on the length-diameter-angle values of the RCA. The presented data will be useful in guiding the success and clinical outcomes of the RCA in both interventional and surgical procedures.