Ectopic high origin of a coronary artery from the aorta--a possible cause of sudden death.

Abstract

Congenital anomalies originating it the coronary arteries are of special interest for forensic specialists. The presented case is a man found dead on the Coast of Marmara Sea. The death was considered to be suspicious and an autopsy was performed. On the macroscopic autopsy, the ostium of the right coronary artery was hole-like, located in a normal position, but the ostium of the left coronary artery was pocket-shaped and located in the left wall of the ascending aorta and above the rim of the sinotubular junction. We describe an asymptomatic, but didactic case with ectopic high origin of the left coronary artery.