Sudden Death Caused by Anomalous Coronary Origin: A Case Report and Clinical Review.

Lee, Bong Woo; Lee, Ho; Seo, Joon Gseok

Original article

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2002;26(1):91-94.
Published online May 31, 2002.

Sudden Death Caused by Anomalous Coronary Origin: A Case Report and Clinical Review.

Bong Woo Lee, Ho Lee, Joon Gseok Seo

Department of Forensic Medicine, Central District, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.

Abstract

Although coronary atherosclerosis occupies more than 90% of myocardial infarctions, anomalous coronary arteries are a potential cause of myocardial ischemia resulting in arrhythmia, angina, infarction, and sudden death. A medico-legal autopsy conducted on a 22 year-old healthy man who died suddenly after exercise, revealed that the right coronary artery ostium was situated higher the aortic ridge (sinotubular junction) with acute downward angulation of the proximal right coronary artery. There was no evidence of any other disease process. Coronary artery anomalies may be overlooked or misssed by the examining forensic pathologist. We described the pathology of this condition and briefly reviewed.