Objective    To study the prevalence and morphological features of myocardial bridge (MB) on dual-source computed tomographic coronary angiography (DSCTCA)

and to determine the relationship between MB and the neighboring coronary atherosclerosis.     Methods    Totally 835 consecutive patients with suspected coronary disease or for physical examination underwent DSCTCA for the presence of MB. The number

length

and depth of MB were observed and evaluated. All cases of MB were divided into two groups according the presence or absence of atherosclerosis in the coronary artery 2 cm neighboring to MB. The patients’ age as well as the length and depth of MB were compared between two groups.     Results    One hundred and ninety-five MB segments were identified in 182 of 835 (21.8%) patients. Of 195 segments

183 located in left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (93.8%). The mean length of MB segments was (19.5±8.2) mm

and the mean depth (1.5±0.8) mm. No evidence of atherosclerosis was found in the mural coronary artery. In a 2-cm-long segment immediately proximal or distal to MB

atherosclerotic plaqueswere found in 75 (38.5%)

including 66 proximal segments (33.8%) and 9 distal segments (4.6%). The patients’ age in the group with atherosclerosis was significantly older than that in the group without atherosclerosis (P0.05). No significant difference in the length or depth of MB segment was found between two groups.     Conclusion    DSCTCA can efficiently detect MB with a high detection rate and clearly show the morphological features of MB in vivo. Coronary atherosclerosis neighboring to MB may result from the persistent effect of MB.