The Importance of Echocardiography in Detecting Coronary Artery Anomalies in Children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is no established current algorithm of treatment and clinical follow-up in children with coronary artery anomalies. We analysed the clinical characteristics, diagnosis treatment options of children and adolescents identified with coronary artery anomalies METHODS: In this retrospective study, 4000 children who attended to our clinic were included between January 2016 and January 2018 at paediatric cardiology department. We reviewed the medical records of 12 patients who had suspicion of coronary-artery anomalies by transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Twelve cases were detected to have coronary artery anomalies. All patients were children-adolescent with a mean age at the time of diagnosis of 10.7+-5 years. None of the patients had cardiac ischemia symptoms. Most common anomaly (5 patients) was the left circumflex coronary artery (Cx) originating from the right coronary artery (RCA). Surgical therapy is recommended in two of 12 patients with interarterial course of coronary artery anomaly. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Echocardiography is an important diagnostic tool in childhood due to acoustic window quality. It is crucial to identify children, particularly children with anomalous origin of coronary arteries who will participate competitive sports. Additional imaging tools including computer tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography and coronary angiography are needed to confirm the definite diagnosis.

Keywords

• echocardiography
• coronary
• children
• anomalies
• congenital