Don’t Miss What Is Hidden On Cardiac CT Angiography: Extra-Cardiac Findings Count

Zainab Ahmad Ramadan, Department of Radiology, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt
Aya Ahmed Elboghdady, Department of Radiology, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, EgyptFollow
Aya Mohammed Abdel Aziz, Department of Radiology, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt
Farah Ahmed Shokeir, Department of Radiology, Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt

Corresponding Author

Aya Ahmed ElBogdady

Subject Area

Radiodiagnosis

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT)is the main imaging modality in cardiovascular diseases. Another important role of MDCT is assessment of extra-cardiac structures outside the pericardium. These extra-cardiac findings may be of great relevance. Methods: Cardiac MDCT scan results were retrospectively reviewed by radiologist for the presence of extra-cardiac findings between February 2020 and December 2022. They were categorized according to anatomical location into systems as pulmonary, pleural, mediastinal, bronchial, vascular, bony, abdominal and miscellaneous. Results: A total of 955 patients had a cardiac multidetector CT angiography scan during the study period. Extra-cardiac findings were reported in 320 (33.5%) of these 192 (60%) were males, 182 (56.8%) were less than 1-year age, while 7 (2.1%) were more than 18 years’ age. They were categorized by systems (airway, pulmonary, abdomen, malpositioned lines and bony). Then we sub-classified these findings by level of clinical importance based upon the need for intervention or treatment into clinically significant and non-significant findings. The most common locations of extracardiac findings were chest (75.9%; 243/320), followed by abdominal (11.5%; 37/320), bony (4.6%; 15/320), post-operative (4.06%; 13/320) and vascular (0.9%; 3/320). The most common abnormalities were pulmonary consolidations (145 out of 320 patients). Conclusions: Extra-cardiac findings are common in patients undergoing cardiac multidetector CT, with a percentage of unexpected significant extracardiac findings about 73%. Adequate tailored evaluation of all structures in the field of view should be performed by pediatric radiology and cardiac imaging expertise to ensure urgent interventions can be undertaken when necessary

Recommended Citation

Ramadan, Zainab Ahmad; Elboghdady, Aya Ahmed; Aziz, Aya Mohammed Abdel; and Shokeir, Farah Ahmed (2023) "Don’t Miss What Is Hidden On Cardiac CT Angiography: Extra-Cardiac Findings Count," Mansoura Medical Journal: Vol. 52 : Iss. 3 , Article 7.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58775/2735-3990.1403