Incidental extra-cardiac findings on clinical CMR

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging benefits from a large field of view, but consequently captures incidental extra-cardiac findings (IEFs). There is a relative paucity of data for CMR in this regard. Our objectives were to assess the frequency and significance of IEFs reported from clinically indicated CMR scans, and additionally to ascertain if reporting rates differed between radiologist and cardiologist in a 'real-world' setting.

A total of 714 patients were included for the study. All patients were referred to a single tertiary cardiac unit for clinically indicated scans. The clinical reports were retrospectively reviewed for reported IEF, and classified as 'minor', or 'major' depending on the need of further investigation or clinical correlation. A total of 180 IEFs were reported in 154 (21.6%) patients. Ninety IEFs were considered minor, and 90 major. Of the latter, eight (1.1%) were considered highly significant. Two hundred scans were reported by a consultant radiologist, and 514 by cardiologists. There was no significant difference in the rates of IEF reporting between the two specialties (P = 0.38).

IEFs are common, requiring further investigation in a substantial minority. The incidence of highly significant findings in this study was low (∼1%), and similar to the reported incidence in the computed tomography literature. No significant difference was found between the reporting rates of IEFs between different specialties.