Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 9, Issue 1 39-43, Copyright © 1990 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic features of coronary arteriovenous fistula. Report of three cases
B. R. Fang, C. W. Chiang, F. C. Lin, Y. S. Lee and C. H. Chang
Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Two-dimensional (2-D) and Doppler echocardiographic features of three cases
of coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) were analyzed. The final diagnosis
was confirmed by coronary angiography in each case. In cases 1 and 2, the
CAVF arose from the right coronary artery and drained into the right atrium
and right ventricle, respectively. The origin and draining site of the CAVF
could be visualized by 2-D echocardiograms. The Doppler studies revealed a
unidirectional flow within the lumen of the CAVF. In case 3, with a small
CAVF originating from both the right coronary artery and left circumflex
artery draining into the main pulmonary artery, no abnormal vascular
structure could be detected by the 2-D echocardiogram; with Doppler study,
a diastolic as well as systolic flow signal directed toward the distal
pulmonary artery could be detected.
