Research Article
Impact of Extracardiac Findings during Cardiac MR on Patient Management and Outcome
Vincent Dunet, Heloise Barras, Xavier Boulanger, Pierre Monney, Salah D. Qanadli, Reto Meuli, Juerg Schwitter, Catherine Beigelman-Aubry
Published:
DOI:
10.12659/MSM.893599
License:
© Med Sci Monit, 20152015This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Abstract
BackgroundCardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly used to assess heart diseases. Relevant non-cardiac diseases may also be incidentally found on CMR images. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and nature of incidental extra-cardiac findings (IEF) and their clinical impact in non-selected patients referred for CMR.Material/MethodsMR images of 762 consecutive patients (515 men, age: 56±18 years) referred for CMR were prospectively interpreted by 2 radiologists blinded for any previous imaging study. IEFs were classified as major when requiring treatment, follow-up, or further investigation. Clinical follow-up was performed by checking hospital information records and by calling referring physicians. The 2 endpoints were: 1) non-cardiac death and new treatment related to major IEFs, and 2) hospitalization related to major IEFs during follow-up.ResultsMajor IEFs were proven in 129 patients (18.6% of the study population), 14% of those being unknown before CMR. During 15±6 month follow-up, treatment of confirmed major IEFs was initiated in 1.4%, and no non-cardiac deaths occurred. Hospitalization occurred in 8 patients (1.0% of the study population) with confirmed major IEFs and none occurred in the remaining 110 patients with unconfirmed/unexplored major IEFs (p<0.001).ConclusionsScreening for major IEFs in a population referred for routine CMR changed management in 1.4% of patients. Major IEFs unknown before CMR but without further exploration, however, carried a favorable prognosis over a follow-up period of 15 months.