Noncardiac findings in cardiac imaging with multidetector computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the frequency of the noncardiac findings in cardiac imaging with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).


BACKGROUND
Multidetector computed tomography is an accepted new tool to evaluate the heart. In cardiac MDCT scans, organs other than the heart are also irradiated, but usually not assessed.


METHODS
A total of 503 patients underwent cardiac imaging with 16- or 64-slice MDCT. Cardiologists assessed the heart, while radiologists reviewed the other organs.


RESULTS
A total of 346 new, noncardiac findings were identified in 292 patients (58.1%). A total of 114 patients (22.7%) had clinically significant findings including 4 cases of malignancy (0.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
There were a significant number of noncardiac findings in cardiac MDCT. To avoid missing clinically important findings, physicians who analyze cardiac MDCT scan--either radiologists or cardiologists--should carefully evaluate all the organs irradiated in the scan.
Onuma
Yoshinobu
Y
Division of Cardiology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Tanabe
Kengo
K
Nakazawa
Gaku
G
Aoki
Jiro
J
Nakajima
Hiroyoshi
H
Ibukuro
Kenji
K
Hara
Kazuhiro
K
D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*