Research Article

Incidental Extrapulmonary Findings in Low-Dose CT of the Thorax

Volume: 13 Number: 1 January 1, 2022
Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Cover
Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi
PDF Download
EN

Incidental Extrapulmonary Findings in Low-Dose CT of the Thorax

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of extrapulmonary findings in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) of the thorax. Methods: Patients who were referred to the radiology department by the department of pulmonary medicine between June 2016 and January 2018 for LDCT examination to assess either a certain or a potential pulmonary disease were identified. Images were retrospectively re-evaluated and findings were categorized according to organ system (Total of 8 groups including cardiac, vascular, mediastinal, abdominal, skeletal, thyroidal, breast and muscular-soft tissue). The LDCT was performed by using a 64-detector CT scanner with scanning parameters standardized as 120 kVp and 20 mAs with 3 mm slice thickness. Results: 102 patients (41 female, 61 male) aged between 25 and 90 years (mean age: 54.5±14.3 years) were included in the final assessment. 87 (85.3%) out of 102 patients had total 245 incidental extrapulmonary findings. Abdominal pathologies were the most common findings (62 patients (60.8%)). Overall, 26 extrapulmonary findings led to further work-up or consultation. Conclusion: Incidental extrapulmonary findings can be detected commonly in LDCT of the thorax. Radiologists should be aware of evaluating all the structures in the scanning area by following a systematic approach in the reading of such studies in order to identify possible pathologies and guide the clinician for the accurate management of patients.

Keywords

References

  1. 1. Kim Y, Kim YK, Lee BE, et al. Ultra-Low-Dose CT of the Thorax Using Iterative Reconstruction: Evaluation of Image Quality and Radiation Dose Reduction. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015;204:1197-202. DOI:10.2214/ajr.14.13629
  2. 2. Rampinelli C, Origgi D and Bellomi M. Low-dose CT: technique, reading methods and image interpretation. Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society. 2013;12:548-56. DOI:10.1102/1470-7330.2012.0049
  3. 3. Naidich DP, Bankier AA, Macmahon H, et al. Recommendations for the management of subsolid pulmonary nodules detected at CT: a statement from the Fleischner Society. Radiology. 2013;266:304-17. DOI:10.1148/radiol.12120628
  4. 4. Aberle DR, Adams AM, Berg CD, et al. Reduced lung-cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomographic screening. The New England journal of medicine. 2011;365:395-409. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1102873
  5. 5. Rampinelli C, Preda L, Maniglio M, et al. Extrapulmonary malignancies detected at lung cancer screening. Radiology. 2011;261:293-9. DOI:10.1148/radiol.11102231
  6. 6. Van De Wiel JC, Wang Y, Xu DM, et al. Neglectable benefit of searching for incidental findings in the Dutch-Belgian lung cancer screening trial (NELSON) using low-dose multidetector CT. European radiology. 2007;17:1474-82. DOI:10.1007/s00330-006-0532-7
  7. 7. Kucharczyk MJ, Menezes RJ, Mcgregor A, et al. Assessing the impact of incidental findings in a lung cancer screening study by using low-dose computed tomography. Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes. 2011;62:141-5. DOI:10.1016/j.carj.2010.02.008
  8. 8. Swensen SJ, Jett JR, Sloan JA, et al. Screening for lung cancer with low-dose spiral computed tomography. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;165:508-13. DOI:10.1164/ajrccm.165.4.2107006

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Radiology and Organ Imaging

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

January 1, 2022

Submission Date

July 2, 2021

Acceptance Date

October 3, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 13 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.961768

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA45ET43EC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex
EndNote
Tekin ZN, Türk A, Alzafer S, Bilgi Z, Demirbaş T, Barutcu Ö (January 1, 2022) Incidental Extrapulmonary Findings in Low-Dose CT of the Thorax. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 13 1 96–101.