title: Imaging of incidental findings on thoracic computed tomography.
abstract: With continued improvement of high-resolution multidetector computed tomography imaging, there is an increasing number of unsuspected thoracic findings. Although many of these findings are of little clinical significance, other findings such as small incidental lung nodules require additional imaging to exclude more worrisome causes, often resulting in greater exposure to ionizing radiation, increased cost, and patient anxiety. Although greater uniformity among radiologists regarding likely benign findings may help reduce unnecessary imaging studies, the lack of clear follow-up guidelines for many findings suggests that further investigation is needed in some areas.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Imaging Section, Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, 560 First Avenue, IRM 236, New York, NY 10016, USA. Jeffrey.Alpert@downstate.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Naidich
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*