What is an Aorto-ostial lesion?

• A. Blockage of a vessel which takes off the aorta
• B. Blockage at the origin of the coronary arteries from the aorta
• C. Blockage of the abdominal aorta
• D. Blockage near the aortic valve

Answer: (A)

An aorto-ostial lesion is a blockage right where a coronary artery originates from the aorta—the ostium at the aortic root. This means the disease is located at the very origin of the left main or right coronary artery as it comes off the aorta. It’s a critical location because even small amounts of plaque here can severely limit flow and pose technical challenges during catheterization and interventions, such as placing a stent flush with the ostium to avoid leaving residual disease or protruding into the aorta. The other options describe blockages in different parts of the aorta or in vessels unrelated to the coronary ostia, which is why they don’t define an aorto-ostial lesion.