Pathology · Cardiac Pathology (IHD, Myocardial Infarction, Valvular, Endocarditis)

In a large autopsy series of fatal transmural myocardial infarcts, which coronary artery is most frequently found to be acutely occluded by thrombus?

  • A Left circumflex artery
  • B Right coronary artery
  • C Left anterior descending artery
  • D Left main coronary artery
Correct answer: C. Left anterior descending artery

Explanation

The left anterior descending artery supplies the anterior wall of the left ventricle, the apex and the anterior two thirds of the interventricular septum, territories involved in roughly half of all infarcts. The right coronary artery is next in frequency, causing inferior and posterior wall infarcts, while isolated left main trunk occlusion is uncommon and usually lethal before hospital arrival.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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