Missed myocardial infarction in a vicenarian with malignant anomalous right coronary artery causing acute coronary syndrome: a case report

BACKGROUND: Traditional coronary artery disease risk factors are well established and help risk stratify most patients presenting with chest pain syndromes. Young patients (under age 30 years) without other risk factors are thought to be at very low risk of coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes. CASE PRESENTATION: We highlight the case of a 27-year-old Afro-Caribbean male who presented to hospital with chest pain and was discharged from the emergency room because he was thought to be low risk for ischemic heart disease. Laboratory investigations subsequently confirmed acute coronary syndrome. He was found to have an anomalous right coronary artery with a malignant origin running between the aorta and pulmonary artery eventually requiring surgical correction. Anomalous origins of the coronary arteries are rare causes of acute coronary syndromes, chest pain, and sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSION: Our patient could have easily had an adverse outcome as his diagnosis was missed by the initial treating physician. It is important to consider anomalous coronary artery origin in the evaluation of young symptomatic patients who may be otherwise low risk and not have traditional risk factors for ischemic heart disease.