Prevalence of significant noncardiac findings on coronary multidetector computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of significant noncardiac findings in asymptomatic patients undergoing coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 258 consecutive participants, 202 (78.3%) men and 56 (21.7%) women, aged 54.38 +/- 7.9 years (range, 40-86 years), underwent CT of the coronary arteries. All examinations were performed with the 16-slice Brilliance CT scanner (Philips, Cleveland, Ohio) and electrocardiography triggering. Patients were scanned in the supine position twice, first without contrast medium to calculate the calcium score and then with contrast medium. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five patients (56.2%) were found to have a significant noncardiac abnormality on coronary MDCT angiography. Lung abnormalities were detected in 91 patients. Eleven patients had emphysema, 17 with bullae, 3 with interstitial lung disease, 3 with lung mass of more than 10 mm, and 64 with lung nodules. Pericardial abnormalities were identified in 10 patients (3.8%). Liver disease was detected in 12 patients (16.9%), including multiple cysts and echinococcal cyst, and 5 patients had liver mass. Adrenal masses were found in 8 patients (one with 2 masses). Bone abnormalities were found in 3 patients, one with sclerotic lesion in the vertebral body, one with osteolytic lesion in the fifth rib, and one with bilateral cervical rib. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, 56.2% of asymptomatic patients undergoing coronary MDCT angiography were found to have significant extracardiac pathology requiring additional workup. Therefore it is essential that a radiologist should review the scans for abnormalities in structures other than the coronary arteries.