MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN DIAGNOSIS OF RIGHT CORONARY ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA - A CASE-REPORT

We describe a patient with a right coronary arteriovenous fistula in w hom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was useful in establishing the di agnosis. In a 36-year-old woman, T1 spin echo MRI demonstrated a massi vely dilated coronary arteriovenous fistula connecting the right coron ary artery to the right atrium. The cine field echo technique showed a continuo shunt flow within the fistula as documented by the flow void throughout the cardiac cycle. These findings were confirmed by cardia c catheterization. We conclude that MRI is useful not only in detectin g a coronary arteriovenous fistula but also in identifying its origin and the drainage site.