Analysis of Extra-cardiac Findings by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Patients With Suspected Coronary Artery Disease / 中国循环杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To quantitatively study the incidental extra-cardiac ifndings (ECFs) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in order to better recognize those lesions in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 1169 suspected CAD patients received CCTA in our hospital from 2011-06 to 2013-03 and 1030 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 589 in-patients, 441 out-patients and 549 patients≥60 years of age,481 patients Results: There were 197/1030 (19.1%) patients having 224 ECFs and 27 (2.6%) patients having 2 ECFs; 90/1030 (8.7%) patients having 106 signiifcant lesions including 3 (0.3%) of lung cancer and 8 (0.8%) of pulmonary embolism; 107 patients with 118 lesions without signiifcance. ECFs were found in 114/589 (19.4%) in-patients and in 83/441 (18.8%) out-patients, P>0.05; 76/481 (15.8%) of patients Conclusion: Unexpected ECFs detection rate was 19.1% in patients undergoing CCTA without further radiation exposure by reconstruction with the full FOV setting, and 8.7% of ECFs had clinical signiifcance. Radiologists should routinely analyze the extra-cardiac organs in CCTA.