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Extracardiac findings detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence and importance of extracardiac findings (ECF) in patients undergoing clinical CMR and to test the hypothesis that the original CMR reading focusing on the heart may underestimate extracardiac abnormalities.

Methods

401 consecutive patients (mean age 53 years) underwent CMR at 1.5 T. Main indications were ischaemic heart disease (n = 183) and cardiomyopathy (n = 164). All CMR sequences, including scout images, were reviewed with specific attention to ECF in a second reading by the same radiologist who performed the first clinical reading. Potentially significant findings were defined as abnormalities requiring additional clinical or radiological follow-up.

Results

250 incidental ECF were detected, of which 84 (34%) had potentially significant ECF including bronchial carcinoma (n = 1), lung consolidation (n = 7) and abdominal abnormalities. In 166 CMR studies (41%) non-significant ECF were detected. The number of ECF identified at second versus first reading was higher for significant (84 vs. 47) and non-significant (166 vs. 36) findings (P < 0.00001).

Conclusions

About one fifth of patients undergoing CMR were found to have potentially significant ECF requiring additional work-up. The second dedicated reading detected significantly more ECF compared with the first clinical reading emphasising the importance of active search for extracardiac abnormalities when evaluating CMR studies.

Key Points

• Many patients undergoing cardiac MR have significant extracardiac findings (ECF)

• These impact on management and require additional work-up.

• Wide review of scout and cine sequences will detect most ECFs.

• Education of radiologists is important to identify ECFs on CMR studies.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by a research grant from Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Switzerland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Ospedale San Giovanni Bellinzona (EOC), CH-6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    Rolf Wyttenbach, Nathalie Médioni & Paolo Santini

  2. Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Peter Vock & Zsolt Szucs-Farkas

  3. Department of Radiology, Spitalzentrum Biel AG, Biel, Switzerland

    Zsolt Szucs-Farkas

Authors
  1. Rolf Wyttenbach
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  2. Nathalie Médioni
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  3. Paolo Santini
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  4. Peter Vock
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  5. Zsolt Szucs-Farkas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rolf Wyttenbach.

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Wyttenbach, R., Médioni, N., Santini, P. et al. Extracardiac findings detected by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Eur Radiol 22, 1295–1302 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2369-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2369-y

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