Author: Christian Loewe, Vienna, Austria
Body Region: Cardiovascular
1. Patient Presentation
- A 78-year-old woman with a known history of cerebral arterial occlusive disease — including left carotid artery stenosis — and hyperlipidemia presented complaining of occasional episodes of chest pain.
- The chest pain occurred infrequently during physical exertion and resolved with rest.
- On admission, her blood pressure was mildly elevated (135/90 mmHg). She never smoked, but her LDL cholesterol level was markedly increased (>250 mg/dL).
- In accordance with the current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes, coronary CT angiography was recommended and subsequently performed.

