Coronary anomalies: incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical relevance.

Coronary artery anomalies are some of the most confusing, neglected topics in cardiology. Although the medical community and general public are increasingly aware that coronary anomalies can be fatal (typically in young, previously “healthy” athletes),1 the reasons for the sudden fatal event and the frequency with which it occurs are generally unclear. To promote a less casual approach to this subject, we review some basic, substantive, and methodological questions about coronary anomalies.