Key result
Cardiac MRI detects extracardiac findings in ~26% of patients, uncovering management-altering malignancies.
Why the study?
The incidence and clinical impact of extracardiac findings in patients undergoing clinical cardiac MRI were not well characterized.
What is the incidence and clinical relevance of extracardiac findings in patients undergoing clinical cardiac MRI?
Observational (n=854)
What is the incidence and clinical relevance of extracardiac findings in patients undergoing clinical cardiac MRI?
Extracardiac findings are common (26%) during clinical cardiac MRI, with a small but important subset requiring changes in patient management, highlighting the need for careful review of the entire field of view.
May warrant extracardiac review on cardiac MRI; leaves open standardized protocols and prospective outcome validation.
PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of extracardiac findings in patients undergoing clinical cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) of the heart, and to determine the influence of those findings on patient management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 40 months, 854 CMRI were performed at 1.5 T. Extracardiac findings were classified as significant (group A), if recommended for additional diagnostics or therapeutic interventions, and as nonsignificant (group B). RESULTS: The most frequent indication for CMRI was evaluation of cardiac stress ischemia. In all, 631 CMRI (74% of 854) showed no extracardiac pathologies. In the remaining 223 CMRI (26% of 854), a total of 286 extracardiac findings were detected. Among these findings, 49 were considered significant (group A) and 237 nonsignificant (group B). In group A, the most common findings were suspicious pulmonary nodules or masses. In group B, the most frequent findings were hepatic cysts or hemangiomas. Eight malignancies were observed with certainty at CMRI. Seven of them had been incidentally diagnosed on CMRI for the first time, and subsequently changed the patients' management. CONCLUSION: Extracardiac findings in clinically indicated CMRI are common (about 26%). Radiologists and cardiologists should be aware of relevant extracardiac findings that might require additional diagnostics or treatment.
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Sohns et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Patients undergoing clinical cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (n=854). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) was evaluated on Incidence of extracardiac findings. Extracardiac findings were detected in 26% of 854 clinical cardiac MRI scans, with 7 cases of incidentally diagnosed malignancies that subsequently changed patient management.
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