SCAD

Medical abbreviation · Cardiology

SCAD stands for Spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a cardiology abbreviation.

Tear in the wall of a coronary artery that creates a blood-filled false channel compressing the true lumen, causing a heart attack without typical atherosclerosis. Around 90 percent of patients are women, often aged 30 to 60, and it is a leading cause of heart attack during or soon after pregnancy.

Example: Postpartum woman with anterior STEMI; angiography shows long smooth narrowing of the LAD consistent with SCAD.

Usage notes

SCAD is strongly associated with fibromuscular dysplasia, so patients are usually screened with imaging from head to pelvis. Because many dissections heal on their own, conservative treatment is preferred over stenting, which can extend the tear. Intense emotional or physical stress often precedes an event, and patient advocacy groups have driven much of the research.

Related abbreviations

More cardiology abbreviations

• S4 – Fourth heart sound
• SA – Sinoatrial
• SAVR – Surgical aortic valve replacement
• SBE – Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• SBP – Systolic blood pressure
• SCA – Sudden cardiac arrest
• SCD – Sudden cardiac death
• SEM – Systolic ejection murmur
• SSS – Sick sinus syndrome
• ST – ST segment
• STEMI – ST-elevation myocardial infarction
• SVG – Saphenous vein graft

See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.