Coronary artery aneurysm

Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Coronary artery aneurysm is an abnormal dilatation of part of the coronary artery.

Diagnosis
It is often found coincidentally on coronary angiography.

Causes
Causes include atherosclerosis, Kawasaki disease and coronary catheterization as well as vasculitides and collagen vascular diseases.

Prognosis
It has a good prognosis.

Definition
A localized arterial widening (dilatation) that usually manifests itself as a bulge. Its presence may lead to weakening of the wall and eventual rupture.

Grade 0
None – no ectasia present.

Grade 1
Ectasia – visual assessment of ectasia >1 & < 1.5 times the normal artery diameter located anywhere in the culprit artery.

Grade 2
Aneurysm – visual assessment of an aneurysm > 1.5 times the normal artery diameter located anywhere in the culprit artery.


 * NOTE: An aneurysm can be further classified as either saccular (wider than it is long) or fusiform (elongated).