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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Detection of incidental cardiac findings in noncardiac chest computed tomography
Francesco Secchi1, Giovanni Di Leo, Moreno Zanardo
1Radiology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese Integrative Biomedical Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, Milan Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of incidental cardiac findings (ICF) in patients undergoing noncardiac chest CT.An experienced radiologist retrospectively reviewed 237 consecutive patients (147 males and 90 females with median age of 69 years) undergoing a noncardiac chest CT. ICF at targeted review were compared to those mentioned in original reports (χ test).At review, ≥1 ICF was detected in 124/237 patients (52%), for a total of 229 ICF, 158 of them (69%) not originally mentioned. Valvular calcifications were unmentioned in 23/23 (100%) patients, main pulmonary artery dilation in 21/22 (96%), coronary calcifications in 69/86 (80%), right or left atrial dilation in 7/11 (64%), aortic atherosclerosis in 29/62 (47%), and ascending aorta dilatation in 8/18 (44%). All 6 pericardial effusions were originally mentioned. No association with sex (P ≥ .189); positive correlation with age (P < .001).Half of patients undergoing noncardiac chest CT presented ≥1 ICF, independently from sex but increasing with age. Moreover, 69% of detectable ICFs were not originally mentioned.
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