High-Risk Coronary Plaques Complicated with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young Patients

Abstract

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has evolved notably over the last decade, gaining an increased amount of temporo-spatial resolution in combination with decreased radiation exposure. The importance of CCTA is emerging especially in vulnerable and young patients who might not have developed a viable collateral vascular network to sustain the circulation to an infarction area during a major adverse coronary event. There are a few well-known markers by which a vulnerable plaque can be assessed and that can predict the subsequent events of sudden myocardial ischemia, such as an increased positive remodeling index (cut-off >1.4), low-attenuation plaque (cut-off 0.7), and napkin-ring sign (NRS). This manuscript presents a series of 3 clinical cases of young patients experiencing symptoms and signs of myocardial ischemia who underwent CCTA in order to assess the composition and functional characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques and their repercussion in developing an acute coronary syndrome.

Keywords

• vulnerable plaque
• coronary computed tomography angiography
• acute coronary syndrome