Evaluation of the Correlation Between Myocardial Bridging and Atherosclerotic Changes in Coronary Artery Segment Proximal to the Bridge by 64-Slice Multidetector CT Scan

Background/Objective: The aim of this study was"nto evaluate the prevalance and characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) and to assess the correlation"nbetween atherosclerosis and MB."nMaterials and Methods: Retrospective evaluation"nof 2790 coronary angiograms were obtained by 64-"nslice multidetector CT. The prevalance, length, depth,"nprecise of MB location and concomitant atherosclerosis"nproximal to tunneled segment were evaluated. The"ngroup of subjects with MB was compared with the"ncontrol group (subjects without MB)."nResults: Of the 2790 subjects, 548 (19.64%) were"nfound to have MB. MB was present equally in men"nand women. The tunneled segment was intact in"nall subjects. A negative significant correlation was"nfound between the presence of MB and severity of"natherosclerosis in the proximal segment of the coronary"nartery (p<0.001; df=2×2=42.75). The mid LAD was the"nmost common coronary artery involved. The severity"nof atherosclerosis in the part proximal to the tunneled"nsegment correlated with the thickness of bridge"n(p=0.035), but no significant correlation was found"nwith the length of the bridged segment (p=0.431)."nConclusion: The myocardial bridge not only does not"npredispose to the development of atherosclerosis in"nthe coronary artery segment proximal to the bridge,"nbut may also be a protective factor.