[Prevalence of cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in the evaluation of coronary artery disease by multidetector computed tomography].
BACKGROUND
With the widespread use of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography, cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in cardiac imaging might be detected. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings in a population of consecutive patients undergoing coronary MDCT.


METHODS
A total of 840 consecutive patients with known or suspected heart disease underwent cardiac MDCT. All patients were assessed with 64-slice MDCT; the examination was performed by limiting the anatomical region examined between the bifurcation of the trachea and the cardiac apex with the aim of obtaining excellent image quality and low cardiac radiological exposure.


RESULTS
Overall, 81 incidental findings in 72 patients (9%) were identified, of which 18 were cardiac (2%) and 63 extracardiac (7%). Extracardiac incidental findings were mainly represented by pulmonary nodules (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant number of cardiac and extracardiac incidental findings were observed at cardiac MDCT, with the prevalence depending on technical aspects of image acquisition and patient characteristics. Incidental findings should be carefully searched for and reported because they may have an impact on clinical follow-up indications that is not without cost and risk.
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Massimo
M
Magnacca
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Rosa
R
Poddighe
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Giancarlo
G
Casolo
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale San Donato, Arezzo.
Marco
M
Chioccioli
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Maria Laura
ML
Canale
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Alessio
A
Lilli
U.O.C. Cardiologia, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Jacopo
J
Del Meglio
U.O.C. Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Carlo
C
Tessa
U.O.C. Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Luca
L
Salvatori
U.O.C. Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Jacopo
J
Lera
U.O.C. Diagnostica per Immagini e Radiologia Interventistica, Ospedale della Versilia, Lido di Camaiore (LU).
Claudio
C
Vignali
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity