Giant right coronary artery aneurysm complicated by a fistula to the right atrium, mimicking a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

Abstract

Patients with a coronary aneurysm alone do not generally exhibit continuous murmurs; however, murmurs may be detected in the presence of a fistula. A 57-year-old woman with chest pain was referred to us with a suspected diagnosis of a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm owing to the presence of a continuous murmur that was detected on physical examination. However, CT revealed a giant right coronary artery aneurysm draining into the right atrium. Consequently, surgery was performed. This case highlights the importance of implementing multiple imaging modalities for adequate differential diagnoses of patients presenting with continuous murmurs.