JRM
Journal of Radiology in Medicine

Journal of Radiology in Medicine is an international journal that published original research and articles in all areas of radiology. Its publishes original research articles, review articles, case reports, editorial commentaries, letters to the editor, educational articles, and conference/meeting announcements.

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Case Report
Anomalous drainage of the great cardiac vein into the le ft atrial appendage: a two-case report
Abstract
Coronary venous system anomalies are rare cardiac structural variants that are mostly detected incidentally in clinical practice. The great cardiac vein (GCV) normally drains into the coronary sinus via the valve of Vieussens, returning venous blood to the right atrium. Its direct drainage into the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an extremely rare anomaly reported in only a few cases in the literature. In this report, we present two female patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for chest pain complaints and in both of whom anomalous drainage of the GCV into the LAA was incidentally detected. Recognition of this rare anomaly by CCTA is emphasized as critically important for predicting thromboembolic and arrhythmic complications and for planning cardiac interventional procedures.

Keywords : Great cardiac vein, left atrial appendage, coronary venous anomaly, coronary CT angiography

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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 3, 2026
Page : 74-79
https://doi.org/10.51271/JRM-0055
Article Information
Received : 16 Haz 2026
Accepted : 01 Eyl 2026
Published : 19 Eyl 2026
Corresponding Author :

Mehmet Ali Kaptan: Department of Radiology, Mersin City Training and Research Hospital, Mersin, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Kaptan MA, Özen A. Anomalous drainage of the great cardiac vein into the left atrial appendage: a two-case report. J Radiol Med. 2026;3(3):74-79. doi:10.51271/JRM-0055

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