Managing Incidental Thyroid Nodules Detected on Imaging: White Paper of the ACR Incidental Thyroid Findings Committee

The incidental thyroid nodule (ITN) is one of the most common incidental findings on imaging studies that include the neck. An ITN is defined as a nodule not previously detected or suspected clinically, but identified by an imaging study. The workup of ITNs has led to increased costs from additional procedures, and in some cases, to increased risk to the patient because physicians are naturally concerned about the risk of malignancy and a delayed cancer diagnosis. However, the majority of ITNs are benign, and small, incidental thyroid malignancies typically have indolent behavior. The ACR formed the Incidental Thyroid Findings Committee to derive a practical approach to managing ITNs on CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound studies. This white paper describes consensus recommendations representing this committee’s review of the literature and their practice experience.     

Managing Incidental Findings on Thoracic CT: Mediastinal and Cardiovascular Findings. A White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee

The ACR Incidental Findings Committee presents recommendations for managing incidentally detected mediastinal and cardiovascular findings found on CT. The Chest Subcommittee was composed of thoracic radiologists who developed the provided guidance. These recommendations represent a combination of current published evidence and expert opinion and were finalized by informal iterative consensus. The recommendations address the most commonly encountered mediastinal and cardiovascular incidental findings and are not intended to be a comprehensive review of all incidental findings associated with these compartments. Our goal is to improve the quality of care by providing guidance on how to manage incidentally detected thoracic findings.     

Management of Incidental Adnexal Findings on CT and MRI: A White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee

The ACR Incidental Findings Committee (IFC) presents recommendations for managing adnexal masses incidentally detected on CT and MRI. These recommendations represent an update of those provided in our previous JACR 2013 white paper. The Adnexal Subcommittee, which included six radiologists with subspecialty expertise in abdominal imaging or ultrasound and one gynecologist, developed this algorithm. The recommendations draw from published evidence and expert opinion and were finalized by iterative consensus. Algorithm branches successively categorize adnexal masses based on patient characteristics (eg, pre- versus postmenopausal) and imaging features. They terminate with a management recommendation. The algorithm addresses most, but not all, pathologies and clinical scenarios. Our goal is to improve quality of care by providing guidance on how to manage incidentally detected adnexal masses.     

Management of Incidental Pituitary Findings on CT,MRI, and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET: A White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee

The ACR Incidental Findings Committee presents recommendations for managing pituitary findings that are incidentally detected on CT, MRI and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET. The Pituitary Subcommittee, which included radiologists practicing neuroradiology and an endocrinologist, developed this algorithm. The recommendations draw from published evidence and expert opinion and were finalized by informal iterative consensus. Algorithm branches successively categorize pituitary findings on the basis of imaging features. They terminate with an ascertainment of an indolent lesion (with sufficient confidence to discontinue follow-up) or a management recommendation. The algorithm addresses most, but not all, pathologies and clinical scenarios. The goal is to improve the quality of care by providing guidance on how to manage incidentally detected pituitary findings.     

Management of the Incidental Renal Mass on CT: A White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee

The ACR Incidental Findings Committee (IFC) presents recommendations for renal masses that are incidentally detected on CT. These recommendations represent an update from the renal component of the JACR 2010 white paper on managing incidental findings in the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and pancreas. The Renal Subcommittee, consisting of six abdominal radiologists and one urologist, developed this algorithm. The recommendations draw from published evidence and expert opinion and were finalized by informal iterative consensus. Each flowchart within the algorithm describes imaging features that identify when there is a need for additional imaging, surveillance, or referral for management. Our goal is to improve quality of care by providing guidance for managing incidentally detected renal masses.     

Process Improvement for Communication and Follow-up of Incidental Lung Nodules

ObjectiveGuideline-concordant follow-up of incidental lung nodules (ILNs) is suboptimal. We aimed to improve communication and tracking for follow-up of these common incidental findings detected on imaging examinations.MethodsWe implemented a process improvement program for reporting and tracking ILNs at a large urban academic health care system. A multidisciplinary committee designed, tested, and implemented a multipart tracking system in the electronic health record (EHR) that included Fleischner Society management recommendations for each patient. Plan-do-study-act cycles addressed gaps in the follow-up of ILNs, broken into phases of developing and testing components of the conceived EHR toolkit.ResultsThe program resulted in standardized text macros with discrete categories and recommendations for ILNs, with ability to track each case in a work list within the EHR. The macros incorporated evidence-based guidelines and also input of collaborating clinical referrers in the respective specialty. The ILN macro was used 3,964 times over the first 2 years, increasing from 104 to over 300 uses per month. Usage spread across all subspecialty divisions, with nonthoracic radiologists currently accounting for 80% (56 of 70) of the radiologists using the system and 31% (1,230 of 3,964) of all captured ILNs. When radiologists indicated ILNs as warranting telephone communication to provider offices, completion was documented in 100% of the cases captured in the EHR-embedded tracking report.ConclusionAn EHR-based system for managing incidental nodules enables case tracking with exact recommendations, provider communication, and completion of follow-up testing. Future efforts will target consistent radiologist use of the system and follow-up completion.     

Incidental lung nodules on CT examinations of the abdomen: Prevalence and reporting rates in the PACS era

Objectives

To retrospectively evaluate prevalence, reporting rates and clinical implications of incidental pulmonary nodules detected in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) abdominal studies.

Materials and methods

Abdominal MDCT studies of 243 consecutive patients, 94 of whom had a history of cancer, were evaluated. Lung bases included in the scan were reviewed on a PACS workstation with different window settings and post-processing techniques. Nodules were classified according to their density (calcified, solid noncalcified, non-solid, part-solid) and size (<4 mm; 4-6 mm; 6-8 mm; >8 mm). The study findings were compared with the corresponding radiologic reports. Previous of following CT studies, when available from the PACS, were also reviewed to evaluate changes in number and size of the detected nodules.

Results

An average of 8.2 cm of lung parenchyma was imaged in each patient. 213 noncalcified nodules (NCNs) were identified in 95 patients (39.1%) but only 8 patients (8.4%) had it mentioned in the final report. Comparison CT studies were available for 44 out of the 95 positive patients showing disappearance of the nodules in 2 cases, no interval change in 26 and progression in size and/or number in 16 patients, in whom a final diagnosis of metastasis or primary lung cancers was achieved.

Conclusion

Radiologists tend to overlook lung portions on abdominal CT studies. Underreporting may affect patient care and have medico-legal implications since images are permanently stored in digital format on PACS and CD-ROMs. Management of the discovered nodules should be tailored to the clinical situation of the patient, and particular care should be reserved to patients with oncologic history.     

以孤立小结节为表现的肺癌CT诊断

目的　探讨CT对≤ 2cm ,以孤立小结节为表现的周围型小肺癌CT诊断。方法　搜集 2 0例经手术、穿刺活检和痰检等病理证实的周围型小肺癌的完整CT资料 ,进行回顾性分析。结果　 2 0例小肺癌的主要CT表现 :全部为孤立小结节 ,16例有分叶征、13例有毛刺征并同时具有“毛虫”征、12例有胸膜凹陷征、8例有血管集中征、3例有空气支气管征和空泡征、3例有模糊绒毛影等。结论　CT ,特别是HRCT靶视野扫描[1 ] 对孤立结节性小肺癌的诊断有价值     

Incidence and Economic Impact of Incidental Findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging

Purpose

The study sought to determine the incidence of incidental findings on whole-body positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and the average costs of investigations to follow-up or further characterize incidental findings.

A Quick Reference Guide for Incidental Findings on Lung Cancer Screening CT Examinations

PurposeThe US Preventive Services Task Force has recommended lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) in high-risk individuals since 2013. Because LDCT encompasses the lower neck, chest, and upper abdomen, many incidental findings (IFs) are detected. The authors created a quick reference guide to describe common IFs in LCS to assist LCS program navigators and ordering providers in managing the care continuum in LCS.MethodsThe ACR IF white papers were reviewed for findings on LDCT that were age appropriate for LCS. A draft guide was created on the basis of recommendations in the IF white papers, the medical literature, and input from subspecialty content experts. The draft was piloted with LCS program navigators recruited through contacts by the ACR LCS Steering Committee. The navigators completed a survey on overall usefulness, clarity, adequacy of content, and user experience with the guide.ResultsSeven anatomic regions including 15 discrete organs with 45 management recommendations were identified as relevant to the age of individuals eligible for LCS. The draft was piloted by 49 LCS program navigators from 32 facilities. The guide was rated as useful and clear by 95% of users. No unexpected or adverse experiences were reported in using the guide. On the basis of feedback, relevant sections were reviewed and edited.ConclusionsThe ACR Lung Cancer Screening CT Incidental Findings Quick Reference Guide outlines the common IFs in LCS and can serve as an easy-to-use resource for ordering providers and LCS program navigators to help guide management.