Recognition of noncardiac findings on cardiac computed tomography examination.
Multislice computed tomography (CT) is rapidly emerging as a novel technique for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. It is anticipated that with increasing acceptance of this imaging technique, CT for calcium scores and CT angiography will be performed in ever greater numbers. Thus, it is all but inevitable that clinicians will stumble upon incidental findings given the sheer number of vital organs and blood vessels that are imaged in the field of view. This article reviews the literature on incidental findings on cardiac CT with a focus on pulmonary nodules, ethical aspects of following up such findings, and cost implications.
George
Anil
A
Cardiovascular Sciences Department, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, USA.
Movahed
Assad
A
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics