Learning objectives
To review the most common incidental cardiac findings on routine chest-CT examinations.
To recognize which cardiac findings are relevant and can alter the clinical course and outcome of patients.
Background
Not uncommonly, radiologists forget to evaluate the heart while interpreting routine chest-CT studies. Incidental cardiac findings range from anatomical variants to malignancy or life-threatening conditions.
Findings and procedure details
This pictorial review includes the most common cardiac findings on routine chest-CT, based on the anatomical location:
Coronary arteries[1]:
Anatomical variants and anomalies: variations in coronary anatomy are often associated with congenital heart diseases or sudden death in young adults.
Variants: 3 types of dominance (which branch supplies the posterior descending artery;PDA): right coronary artery(RCA dominance), circumflex(CX), and both(co-dominance).
Anomalies are related to the origin of the coronary arteries and may be benign or dangerous
Benign:
The single coronary artery(SCA, one coronary artery emerges from...
Conclusion
Cardiac findings are commonly visible on routine chest-CT examinations. Radiologists should systematically evaluate cardiac structures to avoid missing cardiac findings that may be relevant to patient management.
Personal information and conflict of interest
M. B. Barrio Piqueras:
Nothing to disclose
C. Urtasun Iriarte:
Nothing to disclose
M. Jiménez Vázquez:
Nothing to disclose
C. Mbongo:
Nothing to disclose
F. Caballeros Lam:
Nothing to disclose
G. Bastarrika Alemañ:
Nothing to disclose
A. Ezponda Casajus:
Nothing to disclose
References
Rahalkar AM, Rahalkar MD. Pictorial essay: Coronary artery variants and anomalies. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2009;19(1).
Krueger M, Cronin P, Sayyouh M, Kelly AM. Significant incidental cardiac disease on thoracic CT: what the general radiologist needs to know. Insights Imaging. 2019 Dec 1;10(1):1–17.
Jeudy J, White CS, Kligerman SJ, Killam JL, Burke AP, Sechrist JW, et al. Spectrum of Coronary Artery Aneurysms: From the Radiologic Pathology Archives. RadioGraphics. 2018 Jan 1;38(1):11–36.
Xanthopoulos A, Giamouzis G, Alexopoulos N, Kitai T, Triposkiadis F, Skoularigis J. Lipomatous Hypertrophy...