Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Presenting As Posterior Myocardial Infarction

Cureus. 2024 Jan 11;16(1):e52081. doi: 10.7759/cureus.52081. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Abstract

A coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as the dilatation of a vessel with a diameter of ≥1.5 times that of the adjacent normal vessel. Occasionally, aneurysms can be large enough to be characterized as giant CAAs, but there is no universally accepted definition. We discuss the case of a 45-year-old male patient who presented to the hospital with substernal chest pain. His ECG revealed ST depression and T wave inversions in precordial leads. Cardiac biomarkers were within normal limits. Due to concerns about coronary artery disease, cardiac catheterization was done, which revealed CAAs in the distribution of the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) artery. The patient was at high risk for surgical intervention given coexisting severe pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, medical treatment was initiated with beta-blockers, high-intensity statin, and anticoagulation with warfarin. In a two-month follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic without any residual symptoms. A CAA can present as an acute coronary syndrome. The treatment still evolves, involving medical management and/or percutaneous or surgical interventions.

Keywords: acute coronary syndrome; coronary aneurysm; coronary artery ectasia (cea); giant coronary artery aneursym; myocardial infarction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports