Intercoronary continuity between the right and circumflex coronary arteries causing myocardial ischemia

Intercoronary continuity refers to a bidirectional flow in patients with normal coronary arteries. Although such connections have been proposed to have a protective role against potential obstructive coronary artery disease, their functional significance is unclear. We report on a 53-year-old woman who presented with typical chest pain. Exercise myocardial perfusion imaging revealed perfusion defects involving the basal regions of the inferior and inferoseptal walls. Coronary angiography showed an intercoronary continuity between the right coronary artery and circumflex artery. Following institution of medical therapy, the patient’s complaint improved and she had no complaint during one-year follow-up. This is the first reported case in which an intercoronary continuity was associated with myocardial ischemia.