title: The impact of CT colonography on abdominal aortic aneurysm referrals in a tertiary hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Computed tomography colonography (CTC) for the detection of colorectal disease is gaining popularity as an alternative to colonoscopy. This has been associated with an increase in incidental extra-colonic findings such as abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, due to the patient selection process of obtaining a CTC, it was hypothesised that this patient cohort might represent a high-risk group. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact that CTC had on small aneurysm referrals. Owing to the potential selection bias, the secondary aim was to compare baseline characteristics referred by CTC to the cohort referred by other radiological modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients attending the small aneurysm clinic at a single tertiary centre were included. Baseline patient comorbidities were collected and recorded on a prospective database. The characteristics of patients who had a CTC-detected aneurysm were compared to patients referred by other radiological modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 566 patients with small aneurysms included. Of these, 96 (17.0%) had their aneurysm detected from CTC and the remaining aneurysms were detected by other radiological modalities. These patients were on average 2 years older and were less likely to have a smoking history. There was no difference in other patient characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography colonography contributed to the initial diagnosis of one in five patients with small aneurysms. Despite a potential selection bias for patients undergoing CTC, there were no major baseline differences between the CTC cohort and patients referred by other radiological modalities. Routine assessment of the aorta during a CTC may aid in aneurysm detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Vascular Endovascular and Transplant Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Manar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khashram
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Endovascular and Transplant Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Li Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Vascular Endovascular and Transplant Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roake
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D015897:Comorbidity; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: CT colonography; abdominal aortic aneurysm; gastrointestinal imaging; vascular imaging