Heart Science Journal
Vol. 7 No. 3 (2026): Predicting Restenosis in Coronary Artery Disease

Isolated congenital absence of left circumflex mimicking single coronary artery: A rare coronary anomaly case report

Ramadhan, Fitri Febrianti (Unknown)
Saskia Dyah Handari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
14 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: Congenital coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) occur in roughly 1% of the population and, while often incidental, are recognized contributors to sudden cardiac death, particularly in younger individuals. Many anomalies remain silent until adulthood. Case Presentations: A 59-year-old man with obesity, hypertension, and heavy tobacco use presented with exertional dyspnea and recurrent chest pain radiating to the left arm and neck. Initial evaluation showed normal high-sensitivity troponin, an unremarkable electrocardiography (ECG), and a normal transthoracic echocardiogram; his clinical likelihood of obstructive coronary artery disease was estimated at Chronic Coronary Syndrome (CCS) Risk Factor-weighted Clinical Likelihood (RF-CL) 27%. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) demonstrated congenital absence of the left circumflex artery (LCx) with a super-dominant right coronary artery (RCA) coursing subaortically to supply the lateral wall. A non-obstructive calcified plaque was identified in the proximal left anterior descending artery, with an Agatston calcium score of approximately 145, indicating quantifiable but moderate atherosclerotic burden. The distinction between a single coronary artery (SCA) and an absent LCx is clinically important. In SCA, all coronary branches originate from a single aortic ostium, whereas in absent LCx, there is no separate LCx ostium, and the RCA (and occasionally enlarged diagonal branches) perfuses the LCx territory; CCTA is pivotal for depicting ostial origin and vessel course. The patient was treated with a beta-blocker, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a statin, and aspirin. Conclusions: Given persistent symptoms, functional testing is recommended to determine ischemic significance and guide management. Accurate identification of this subtle anomaly and comprehensive risk stratification are essential to optimize outcomes. 

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Journal Info

Abbrev

heartscience

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology

Description

HEART SCIENCE is the official open access journal of Brawijaya Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia. The journal publishes articles three times per year in January, May, and September. The ...