Congenital absence of the right coronary artery: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE: Congenital absence of the right coronary artery (RCA) is a rare congenital malformation of the cardiovascular system which may have fatal consequences. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old man with a 5-year history of chest pain after exertion which had aggravated for >1 month was advised for admission and computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination of the coronary artery to screen for coronary artery disease (CAD). DIAGNOSES: The coronary artery CTA showed absence of RCA arising form the aortic root after which a selective coronary angiography (SCA) examination was done that confirmed the diagnosis of congenital absence of RCA. INTERVENTIONS: As the patient refused to receive a coronary artery stent implantation citing his financial condition, only symptomatic treatment was given. OUTCOMES: The patient requested to be discharged from the hospital against the advice of his doctors 1 week later. A query made by the telephone suggested that the patient's symptoms were under control by use of prescribed medications only. LESSONS: Although being a rare condition, a coronary artery CTA examination can be utilized to screen for congenital absence of RCA and other varieties of cardiovascular malformation whereas SCA can be performed to confirm the diagnosis.