Spectrum of collateral findings in multislice CT coronary angiography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the noncardiac collateral findings during multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA).


METHODS
Six hundred and seventy patients undergoing MSCT-CA with 16-slice and 64-slice CT scanners for suspected atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries were retrospectively reviewed. All data sets obtained with a large field of view (FOV) were analysed by two radiologists using standard mediastinal and lung window settings. Collateral findings were divided according to clinical importance into nonsignificant, remarkable and compulsory to be investigated.


RESULTS
Eighty-five percent of patients revealed coronary artery disease (CAD). Only 138/670 (20.6%) were without any additional finding. An additional 1,234 findings were recorded: nonsignificant 332 (26.9%), mild 821 (66.53%), compulsory for study 81 (6.56%). A total of 81 patients (12.08%) had significant noncardiac pathology requiring clinical or radiological follow-up. Among these, newly discovered pathologies were revealed in two patients (2.46%).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant number of noncardiac findings might have been missed in MSCT-CA scans; the appropriate approach should be as a team trained in cardiology and radiology.
Cademartiri
F
F
Dipartimento di Radiologia e Dipartimento Cuore, Imaging Cardiovascolare Non invasivo, Azienda Ospedaliera di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, I-43100, Parma, and Istituto di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy. filippocademartiri@hotmail.com
Malagò
R
R
Belgrano
M
M
Alberghina
F
F
Maffei
E
E
La Grutta
L
L
Palumbo
A A
AA
Runza
G
G
Mollet
N R
NR
Midiri
M
M
Krestin
G P
GP
Mucelli
R Pozzi
RP
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*