The aim of our study was to evaluate the atherosclerotic pattern of patients with coronary myocardial bridging (MB) by means of CT Coronary Angiography (CT-CA). 254 consecutive patients (166 male, mean age 58.6 ± 10.3) who underwent 64-slice CT-CA according to current clinical indications were reviewed for the presence of MB and concomitant segmental atherosclerotic pattern. Coronary plaques were assessed in all patients enrolled. 73 patients (29%) presented single (90%) or multiple (10%) MB, frequently (93%) localized in the mid-distal left anterior descending artery. The MB segment was always free of atherosclerosis. Segments proximal to the MB presented: no atherosclerotic disease (n = 37), positive remodeling (n = 23), <50% (n = 14), or >50% stenoses (n = 7). Distal segments presented a different atherosclerosis pattern (P < 0.0001): absence of disease (n = 73), no significant lesions (n = 8). No significant differences were found between segments proximal to MB and proximal coronary segments apart from left main trunk. Pattern of atherosclerotic lesions located in segments 6 and 7 significantly differs between patients with MB and patients without MB (P < 0.05). CT-CA is a reliable method to non-invasively demonstrate MB and related atherosclerotic pattern. CT-CA provides new insight regarding atherosclerosis distribution in segments close to MB.

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doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9817-2, hdl.handle.net/1765/23216
International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

la Grutta, L., Runza, G., Galia, M., Maffei, E., Lo Re, G., Grassedonio, E., … Midiri, M. (2012). Atherosclerotic pattern of coronary myocardial bridging assessed with CT coronary angiography. International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging, 28(2), 405–414. doi:10.1007/s10554-011-9817-2