PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY OF A CORONARY-ARTERY STENOSIS AT THE SITE OF MYOCARDIAL BRIDGING

The incidence of myocardial bridging observed at angiography (0.5-16%) is far less than at pathologic study (> 50%). Myocardial bridging is felt to have a 'protective effect' on the coronary artery at the site of bridging, and significant atherosclerosis within the bridge is almost never seen at pathologic examination. To date, there have been no reports of significant atherosclerosis at the site of angiographically documented myocardial bridging. We report a unique case of an angioplasty of a left anterior descending artery stenosis within a myocardial bridge. This report also discusses the possible difference in the protective effect of myocardial bridging that is seen at angiography and myocardial bridging that is only appreciated pathologically but not angiographically.