Objectives: We investigated the frequency of the noncardiac findings in cardiac imaging with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
Background: Multidetector computed tomography is an accepted new tool to evaluate the heart. In cardiac MDCT scans, organs other than the heart are also irradiated, but usually not assessed.
Methods: A total of 503 patients underwent cardiac imaging with 16- or 64-slice MDCT. Cardiologists assessed the heart, while radiologists reviewed the other organs.
Results: A total of 346 new, noncardiac findings were identified in 292 patients (58.1%). A total of 114 patients (22.7%) had clinically significant findings including 4 cases of malignancy (0.8%).
Conclusions: There were a significant number of noncardiac findings in cardiac MDCT. To avoid missing clinically important findings, physicians who analyze cardiac MDCT scan--either radiologists or cardiologists--should carefully evaluate all the organs irradiated in the scan.