The value of computed tomography in combination with a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty guide wire for identifying the definite course of an anomalous left anterior descending artery

When the left anterior descending artery (LAD), originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, follows an anomalous course between the aorta and pulmonary artery it can be associated with ischaemia, infarction or sudden death. Patients with such a LAD should be treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is therefore important to determine the exact course of the aberrant vessel. We describe two patients in whom the course of the anomalous LAD was determined and confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan in combination with a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) guide wire positioned in the aberrant vessel.