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<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abcimg</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>ABC Imagem Cardiovascular</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq Bras Cardiol: Imagem cardiovasc.</abbrev-journal-title></journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="epub">2675-312X</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia</publisher-name></publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abcimg.20240106i</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">abcimg.20240106i</article-id>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Image</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Idiopathic Multiple Coronary Artery Aneurysms</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-2181-0961</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Vera</surname><given-names>Alberto</given-names></name>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<xref ref-type="corresp" rid="c1"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0002-9899-9259</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Álvarez</surname><given-names>Virginia</given-names></name>
<role>Conception and design of the research</role>
<role>writing of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for intellectual content</role>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref>
</contrib>
<aff id="aff1">
<label>1</label>
<institution content-type="orgname">Navarre Hospital Complex</institution>
<addr-line>
<named-content content-type="city">Pamplona</named-content>
</addr-line>
<country country="ES">Spain</country>
<institution content-type="original">Navarre Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Navarra – Spain</institution>
</aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c1"><label>Mailing Address:</label> <bold>Alberto Vera</bold> • Navarre Hospital Complex. Irunlarea, 3. Postal code: <postal-code>31008</postal-code>. Pamplona –Spain E-mail: <email>verasainz1604@gmail.com</email></corresp>
<fn fn-type="conflict"><label>Potential Conflict of Interest</label>
<p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="edited-by"><label>Editor responsible for the review:</label> <p>Marcelo Dantas</p></fn>
</author-notes>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub">
<day>17</day>
<month>06</month>
<year>2025</year></pub-date>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="collection">
<year>2025</year></pub-date>
<volume>38</volume>
<issue>2</issue>
<elocation-id>e20240106</elocation-id>
<history>
<date date-type="received">
<day>24</day>
<month>10</month>
<year>2024</year>
</date>
<date date-type="rev-recd">
<day>27</day>
<month>03</month>
<year>2025</year>
</date>
<date date-type="accepted">
<day>24</day>
<month>04</month>
<year>2025</year>
</date>
</history>
<permissions>
<license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License</license-p>
</license>
</permissions>
<kwd-group xml:lang="en">
<title>Keywords</title>
<kwd>Coronary Aneurysm</kwd>
<kwd>Case Reports</kwd>
</kwd-group>
<counts>
<fig-count count="4"/>
<table-count count="0"/>
<equation-count count="0"/>
<ref-count count="2"/>
</counts>
</article-meta>
</front>
<body>
<sec sec-type="cases">
<title>Case presentation</title>
<p>A 54-year-old patient with no previous medical history was evaluated in the cardiology clinic for chest pain with atypical characteristics. Due to a pretest probability of ischemic heart disease of 20%, a coronary computed tomography scan was performed, which showed a coronary aneurysm (10 × 11 mm) from the origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) to the mid-segment (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1A</xref>, white arrow; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2C</xref>). In the RCA mid-segment, there was partial circumferential thrombosis with 50% lumen stenosis (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1B</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">C</xref>; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2C</xref>, white asterisks). The rest of the RCA showed no coronary artery obstruction. A 9 × 9 mm aneurysm was also observed in the left main coronary artery extending to the bifurcation and proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, without significant lesions (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1A</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">D</xref>, white arrows; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2A</xref>). A 5 × 6 mm aneurysm was also observed in the proximal left circumflex artery, without significant coronary lesions (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1A</xref>, white arrow; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f2">Figure 2B</xref>). The study was completed with a regadenoson stress cardiac magnetic resonance that was negative for inducible ischemia. Serologies and autoantibodies were also requested, and they were negative. The decision was made to initiate medical treatment with acetylsalicylic acid and atorvastatin. During the 6-month follow-up, the patient did not present coronary outcomes and remained asymptomatic.</p>
<fig id="f1">
<label>Figure 1</label>
<caption>
<title>(A) Three-dimensional volume rendering. (B) RCA mid-segment. Partial circumferential thrombosis with 50% lumen stenosis. (C) RCA mid-segment. Partial thrombosis with 50% lumen stenosis. (D) LAD aneurysm. LAD: left anterior descending artery; LCX: left circumflex artery; LM: left main coronary artery; RCA: right coronary artery.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-38-02-e20240106-gf01.tif"/>
</fig>
<fig id="f2">
<label>Figure 2</label>
<caption>
<title>Multiplanar reconstruction. (A) LAD. (B) CX. (C) RCA. CX: left circumflex artery; LAD: left anterior descending artery; RCA: right coronary artery.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-38-02-e20240106-gf02.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>A coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is typically defined as a focal dilation of a coronary artery that exceeds 1.5 times the diameter of an adjacent normal segment, whereas coronary ectasia refers to a diffuse dilation involving at least 50% of the artery&apos;s length. Giant coronary aneurysms, although rare, are classified as those measuring more than 20 mm in diameter. This distinction is clinically significant, as ectasia represents a more extensive and generalized involvement of the artery, whereas aneurysms are focal and may carry a different prognosis and management approach.</p>
<p>Considering the definitions provided above, we classified our case as multiple CAAs because the dilations observed were focal rather than diffuse, which differentiates them from coronary ectasia. We have explicitly compared our case with the coronary ectasia classification proposed by Kawsara et al.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> In particular, type I coronary ectasia, which affects multiple arteries and may present focal superimposed dilations, could have a similar radiological phenotype. However, in our case, the imaging findings demonstrated well-demarcated aneurysms rather than extensive arterial involvement. This distinction supports our classification of the lesions as aneurysms rather than ectasia. CAAs are uncommon, yet clinically significant findings, often associated with atherosclerosis, Kawasaki disease, or other inflammatory conditions. Their management is complex and depends on factors such as aneurysm size, location, and the presence of complications like thrombosis or rupture.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> The treatment of CAAs can range from conservative medical management to invasive interventions. Medical therapy typically includes antiplatelet agents, anticoagulation, and statins to reduce thrombotic risk and control underlying atherosclerosis. For patients with large or symptomatic aneurysms or those with a high risk of rupture, surgical or percutaneous interventions may be necessary. These approaches include aneurysm resection, coronary artery bypass grafting, or stenting.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup></p>
<p>Multiple CAAs have been reported in the literature, including cases affecting more than one coronary artery.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> However, our case presents some particular features that make it unique. The aneurysms were discovered incidentally during the evaluation of atypical chest pain, rather than being diagnosed due to acute complications or symptomatic presentation. Additionally, there was involvement of all three major coronary arteries, which remains a rare finding. Another distinctive aspect of our case is that the patient was successfully managed with a conservative medical approach, without requiring interventional or surgical treatment. These aspects highlight the importance of considering conservative management in stable patients with multiple CAAs, emphasizing the need for individualized decision-making in such rare presentations.</p>
<p>In conclusion, the novelty of our case lies in being the first reported case of idiopathic CAAs present in the three main coronary arteries and the presence of 50% partial asymptomatic circumferential thrombosis of the RCA aneurysm, which was successfully managed with medical therapy.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<fn-group>
<fn fn-type="financial-disclosure" id="fn1">
<label>Sources of Funding</label>
<p>There were no external funding sources for this study.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn2"><label>Study Association</label>
<p>This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn3"><label>Ethics Apprand Consent to Participate</label>
<p>This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn4"><label>Use of Artificial Intelligence</label>
<p>The authors did not use any artificial intelligence tools in the development of this work.</p></fn>
</fn-group>
<sec sec-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-available-upon-request">
<label>Availability of Research Data</label>
<p>All datasets supporting the results of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author, Alberto Vera.</p>
</sec>
<ref-list>
<title>References</title>
<ref id="B1">
<label>1</label>
<element-citation publication-type="journal">
<person-group person-group-type="author">
<name><surname>Kawsara</surname><given-names>A</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Núñez Gil</surname><given-names>IJ</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Alqahtani</surname><given-names>F</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Moreland</surname><given-names>J</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Rihal</surname><given-names>CS</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Alkhouli</surname><given-names>M</given-names></name>
</person-group>
<article-title>Management of Coronary Artery Aneurysms</article-title>
<source>JACC Cardiovasc Interv</source>
<year>2018</year>
<volume>11</volume>
<issue>13</issue>
<fpage>1211</fpage>
<lpage>1223</lpage>
<pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1016/j.jcin.2018.02.041</pub-id>
</element-citation>
<mixed-citation>Kawsara A, Núñez Gil IJ, Alqahtani F, Moreland J, Rihal CS, Alkhouli M. Management of Coronary Artery Aneurysms. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2018;11(13):1211-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2018.02.041.</mixed-citation>
</ref>
<ref id="B2">
<label>2</label>
<element-citation publication-type="journal">
<person-group person-group-type="author">
<name><surname>Khouzam</surname><given-names>MS</given-names></name>
<name><surname>Khouzam</surname><given-names>N</given-names></name>
</person-group>
<article-title>Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Involving More than One Coronary Artery: Case Report</article-title>
<source>J Cardiothorac Surg</source>
<year>2021</year>
<volume>16</volume>
<issue>1</issue>
<fpage>177</fpage>
<lpage>177</lpage>
<pub-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1186/s13019-021-01560-5</pub-id>
</element-citation>
<mixed-citation>Khouzam MS, Khouzam N. Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Involving More than One Coronary Artery: Case Report. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2021;16(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s13019-021-01560-5.</mixed-citation>
</ref>
</ref-list>
</back>
<sub-article article-type="translation" id="S1" xml:lang="pt">
<front-stub>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abcimg.20240106</article-id>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Imagem</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Múltiplos Aneurismas Coronarianos Idiopáticos</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-2181-0961</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Vera</surname><given-names>Alberto</given-names></name>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref>
<xref ref-type="corresp" rid="c2"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0002-9899-9259</contrib-id>
<name><surname>Álvarez</surname><given-names>Virginia</given-names></name>
<role>Concepção e desenho da pesquisa</role>
<role>redação do manuscrito e revisão crítica do manuscrito quanto ao conteúdo intelectual importante</role>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>1</sup></xref>
</contrib>
<aff id="aff2">
<label>1</label>
<addr-line>
<named-content content-type="city">Pamplona</named-content>
</addr-line>
<country country="ES">Espanha</country>
<institution content-type="original">Navarre Hospital Complex, Pamplona, Navarra – Espanha</institution>
</aff>
</contrib-group>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c2"><label>Correspondência:</label> <bold>Alberto Vera</bold> • Navarre Hospital Complex. Irunlarea, 3. CEP: <postal-code>31008</postal-code>. Pamplona – Espanha E-mail: <email>verasainz1604@gmail.com</email></corresp>
<fn fn-type="edited-by"><label>Editor responsável pela revisão:</label> <p>Marcelo Dantas</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="conflict"><label>Potencial Conflito de Interesse</label>
<p>Declaro não haver conflito de interesses pertinentes.</p></fn>
</author-notes>
<kwd-group xml:lang="pt">
<title>Palavras-chave</title>
<kwd>Aneurisma Coronário</kwd>
<kwd>Relatos de Casos</kwd>
</kwd-group>
</front-stub>
<body>
<sec sec-type="cases">
<title>Apresentação de caso</title>
<p>Um paciente de 54 anos, sem histórico médico prévio, foi avaliado na clínica de cardiologia por dor torácica com características atípicas. Devido a uma probabilidade pré-teste de cardiopatia isquêmica de 20%, foi realizada tomografia computadorizada de coronárias, que evidenciou um aneurisma coronário (10 × 11 mm) desde a origem da artéria coronária direita (ACD) até o segmento médio (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figura 1A</xref>, seta branca; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figura 2C</xref>). No segmento médio da ACD, havia trombose circunferencial parcial com estenose luminal de 50% (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figura 1B</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">C</xref>; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figura 2C</xref>, asteriscos brancos). O restante da ACD não apresentou obstrução da artéria coronária. Também foi observado um aneurisma de 9 × 9 mm no tronco da artéria coronária esquerda, estendendo-se até a bifurcação e porção proximal da artéria coronária descendente anterior, sem lesões significativas (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figura 1A</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">D</xref>, setas brancas; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figura 2A</xref>). Foi observado também um aneurisma de 5 × 6 mm na artéria circunflexa esquerda proximal, sem lesões coronárias significativas (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f3">Figura 1A</xref>, seta branca; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f4">Figura 2B</xref>). Foi realizada ressonância magnética cardíaca sob estresse com regadenoson, que foi negativa para isquemia induzida. Sorologias e autoanticorpos, também solicitados, foram negativos. Optou-se por iniciar tratamento clínico com ácido acetilsalicílico e atorvastatina. Durante o acompanhamento de 6 meses, o paciente não apresentou desfechos coronários e permaneceu assintomático.</p>
<fig id="f3">
<label>Figura 1</label>
<caption>
<title>(A) Renderização volumétrica tridimensional. (B) Segmento médio da ACD. Trombose circunferencial parcial com estenose luminal de 50%. (C) Segmento médio da ACD. Trombose parcial com estenose luminal de 50%. (D) Aneurisma da ADA. ACD: artéria coronária direita; ADA: artéria descendente anterior esquerda; CX: artéria circunflexa esquerda; TCE: tronco da artéria coronária esquerda.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-38-02-e20240106-gf01-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<fig id="f4">
<label>Figura 2</label>
<caption>
<title>Reconstrução multiplanar. (A) ADA. (B) CX. (C) ACD. ACD: artéria coronária direita; ADA: artéria descendente anterior esquerda; CX: artéria circunflexa esquerda.</title></caption>
<graphic xlink:href="2675-312X-abcimg-38-02-e20240106-gf02-pt.tif"/>
</fig>
<p>Um aneurisma coronariano é tipicamente definido como uma dilatação focal de uma artéria coronária que excede 1,5 vez o diâmetro de um segmento normal adjacente, enquanto a ectasia coronária se refere a uma dilatação difusa envolvendo pelo menos 50% do comprimento da artéria. Aneurismas coronarianos gigantes, embora raros, são classificados como aqueles com mais de 20 mm de diâmetro. Essa distinção é clinicamente significativa, visto que a ectasia representa um envolvimento mais extenso e generalizado da artéria, enquanto os aneurismas são focais e podem acarretar prognóstico e abordagem de tratamento diferentes.</p>
<p>Considerando as definições fornecidas acima, classificamos nosso caso como múltiplos aneurismas coronarianos porque as dilatações observadas eram focais e não difusas, o que as diferenciava da ectasia coronariana. Comparamos explicitamente nosso caso com a classificação de ectasia coronariana proposta por Kawsara et al.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> Em particular, a ectasia coronariana tipo I, que afeta múltiplas artérias e pode apresentar dilatações focais sobrepostas, pode ter um fenótipo radiológico semelhante. No entanto, em nosso caso, os achados de imagem demonstraram aneurismas bem delimitados em vez de um envolvimento arterial extenso. Essa distinção corrobora nossa classificação das lesões como aneurismas em vez de ectasia. Os aneurismas coronarianos são achados incomuns, porém clinicamente significativos, frequentemente associados à aterosclerose, doença de Kawsara ou outras condições inflamatórias. Seu manejo é complexo e depende de fatores como tamanho do aneurisma, localização e presença de complicações como trombose ou ruptura.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> O tratamento dos aneurismas coronarianos pode variar de manejo médico conservador a intervenções invasivas. A terapia medicamentosa geralmente inclui agentes antiplaquetários, anticoagulação e estatinas para reduzir o risco trombótico e controlar a aterosclerose subjacente. Para pacientes com aneurismas grandes ou sintomáticos ou aqueles com alto risco de ruptura, podem ser necessárias intervenções cirúrgicas ou percutâneas. Essas abordagens incluem ressecção do aneurisma, cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio ou colocação de stent.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup></p>
<p>Casos de múltiplos aneurismas coronarianos foram relatados na literatura, incluindo aqueles que afetaram mais de uma artéria coronária.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> No entanto, nosso caso apresenta algumas características particulares que o tornam único. Os aneurismas foram descobertos incidentalmente durante a avaliação de dor torácica atípica, em vez de serem diagnosticados devido a complicações agudas ou apresentação sintomática. Ademais, houve envolvimento das três principais artérias coronárias, o que continua sendo um achado raro. Outro aspecto distintivo do nosso caso é que o paciente foi tratado com êxito por meio de uma abordagem médica conservadora, sem necessidade de tratamento intervencionista ou cirúrgico. Esses aspectos destacam a importância de considerar o tratamento conservador em pacientes estáveis com múltiplos aneurismas coronarianos, enfatizando a necessidade de uma tomada de decisão individualizada nessas apresentações raras.</p>
<p>Em conclusão, a novidade do nosso caso reside em ser o primeiro relato de aneurismas coronarianos idiopáticos presentes nas três principais artérias coronárias, com a presença de trombose circunferencial assintomática parcial de 50% do aneurisma da ACD, tratado com êxito por meio de terapia medicamentosa.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<fn-group>
<fn fn-type="financial-disclosure" id="fn5">
<label>Fontes de Financiamento</label>
<p>O presente estudo não teve fontes de financiamento externas.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn6"><label>Vinculação Acadêmica</label>
<p>Não há vinculação deste estudo a programas de pós-graduação.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn7"><label>Aprovação Ética e Consentimento Informado</label>
<p>Este artigo não contém estudos com humanos ou animais realizados por nenhum dos autores.</p></fn>
<fn fn-type="other" id="fn8"><label>Uso de Inteligência Artificial</label>
<p>Os autores não utilizaram ferramentas de inteligência artificial no desenvolvimento deste trabalho.</p></fn>
</fn-group>
<sec sec-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-available-upon-request">
<label>Disponibilidade de Dados</label>
<p>Todo o conjunto de dados que dá suporte aos resultados deste estudo está disponível mediante solicitação ao autor correspondente, Alberto Vera.</p>
</sec>
</back>
</sub-article>
</article>
