Unsuspected finding of right coronary artery occlusion on nongated CT chest

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality globally. This occurs due to occlusion of the coronary artery resulting in ischemia of the cardiac muscles. Typical symptoms include chest pain and discomfort. However, there are atypical symptoms including, but not limited to epigastric pain, nausea, and syncope. Such atypical symptoms upon presentation to the emergency department make it rather easy to overlook a potential MI. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman who had a delayed presentation to the emergency department with epigastric pain, nausea, and syncope. A nongated CT scan of the chest was utilized to rule out an aortic dissection. Interestingly, an unsuspected finding of a right coronary artery occlusion was detected instead. The patient underwent coronary artery stenting and was discharged a week later with a beta-blocker, dual antiplatelet therapy, a diuretic, and an anti-reflux medication. Overall, this case report emphasizes the importance of recognizing other atypical presentations in relation to MI. Additionally, this highlights the importance of the clinician's role in assessing the heart and coronary arteries when evaluating CT scans.

Keywords

• Myocardial infarction
• Epigastric pain
• Nongated CT chest
• Coronary catheterization