Diagnostic value of parasternal pulmonary artery short-axis view for the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of parasternal pulmonary artery (PA) short-axis view for the anomalous origin of left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery by echocardiography.

Methods: A total of 13 patients (3 boys) aged from 2 months to 12 years were enrolled. Transthoracic echocardiography, including cross-sectional imaging and color Doppler flow imaging, were performed, and their diagnoses were confirmed by operation.

Results: Among the 13 patients, 7 had LCA originated from the left posterior wall of PA, 2 from the posterior wall, and 4 from the right posterior wall. The PA short-axis view could visualize the anomalous origin of the LCA from left posterior or posterior wall of PA clearly. The LCA and aortic wall were overlapping at 3-4 o'clock at PA short-axis view in the patients with LCA originating from the right posterior wall of PA. It was similar with the image of the LCA originating from the aorta. But the blood flow was opposite to that of LCA with normal origin.

Conclusions: The parasternal PA short-axis view is a good view to visualize the anomalous origin of the LCA.