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CLINICAL RESEARCH: CARDIAC IMAGING

Potential Clinical and Economic Consequences of Noncardiac Incidental Findings on Cardiac Computed Tomography

Jimmy MacHaalany, MD^_*, Yeung Yam, BSc^_*, Terrence D. Ruddy, MD^_*,, Arun Abraham, MBBS^_*, Li Chen, MSc, Rob S. Beanlands, MD^_*, and Benjamin J.W. Chow, MD^_*,,_*

^_* Department of Medicine (Cardiology), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Cardiovascular Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Manuscript received April 6, 2009; revised manuscript received May 19, 2009, accepted June 11, 2009.

^_* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Benjamin J. W. Chow, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada (Email: bchow{at}ottawaheart.ca).

Objectives: We sought to determine the incidence, clinical significance, and potential financial impact of noncardiac incidental findings (IF) identified with cardiac computed tomography (CT).

Background: Cardiac CT is gaining acceptance and may lead to the frequent discovery of extracardiac IF.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing cardiac CT had noncardiac structures evaluated after full field of view (32 to 50 cm) reconstruction. IF were categorized as clinically significant (CS), indeterminate, or clinically insignificant. Patient follow-up was performed by telephone, and verified with hospital records and/or communication with physicians.

Results: Of 966 patients (58 ± 16 years of age, 55.4% men, >98% outpatients), 401 (41.5%) patients had noncardiac IF. A total of 12 (1.2%) patients had CS findings, and 68 (7.0%) patients had indeterminate findings. At follow-up (18.4 ± 7.6 months), none of the indeterminate findings became CS. Although 3 patients with indeterminate findings were diagnosed with malignant lesions, they were unrelated to the IF. After adjusting for age, IF were not an independent predictor of noncardiac death. Noncardiac death and cancer death in patients with and without IF were not statistically different. One patient suffered a major complication related to the investigation of an IF. The total direct cost associated with investigating IF was Canadian $57,596 (U.S. $83,035).

Conclusions: Although noncardiac IF are common, clinically significant or indeterminate IF are less prevalent. Rates of death were similar in patients with and without IF, and IF was not an independent predictor of noncardiac death. The investigation of IF is not without cost or risk. Larger studies are required to assess the potential mortality benefit of identifying IF.

Key Words: multidetector computed tomography • incidental findings • noncardiac death • CTA • lung nodules • noninvasive imaging

Abbreviations and Acronyms   CDN = Canadian   CS = clinically significant   CT = computed tomography   IF = incidental finding(s)   NSCLC = nonsmall cell lung cancer

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