Noninvasive techniques for the diagnosis of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in adult patients.

Background Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly which requires surgical treatment, which improves left ventricular function and clinical outcomes. The definitive diagnosis of ALCAPA is based on coronary angiography, however, noninvasive visualization of the origin of the coronary artery is often helpful in the diagnosis of ALCAPA. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate noninvasive techniques for the diagnosis of ALCAPA, and present the clinical outcomes in adults after surgical correction of ALCAPA. Methods Medical charts of five patients with ALCAPA treated at the John Paul II Hospital in Cracow between 2004 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Noninvasive imaging techniques were used to visualize coronary vessels preoperatively. Patients were followed one year after the operation with echocardiograms and assessment of the New York Heart Association functional class. Results Computed tomography showed ALCAPA in four patients. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal left ventricle remodeling suggestive of ischemia of the anterior cardiac wall. Myocardial perfusion imaging revealed ischemia of the middle and periapical segments of the anterior and anterolateral wall of the left ventricle in two patients. Postoperatively, patients had symptomatic improvement, but there was no statistically significant difference in mean ejection fraction. Conclusions Noninvasive techniques can be used to visualize the origin of the coronary arteries and characterize their morphology. Long-term follow-up of adult patients after surgical correction of ALCAPA is not well documented in the literature, but surgical treatment revealed beneficial short-term effects and symptoms relief.