Abstract

MORA-ENCINAS, J.P. et al. Prevalencia y trascendencia de los hallazgos extracardíacos encontrados en resonancia magnética de corazón. Rev. argent. radiol. [online]. 2016, vol.80, n.3, pp.170-177. ISSN 1852-9992.

Objectives: To assess the number of incidental lesions detected on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in order to establish the percentage of findings included in the report and evaluate the percentage of extracardiac lesions that have implications on patient management. Materials and methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 918 cardiac MRI (performed from May 2006 to March 2015) to search for extracardiac findings. These were classified in not relevant or relevant, and in relation with cause-effect cardiac symptoms. Results: A total of 271 extracardiac findings were observed, of which 35.7% were relevant, and 18.8% had a cause-effect relationship with the cardiac symptoms. Relevant extracardiac findings were reported in 58.4% of cases, and not relevant findings in 26.6% of cases. Discussion: Different sample populations and protocols (performing cardiac MRI) can determine differences when establishing percentage of extracardiac findings. Furthermore, analysis of cardiac MR images has peculiarities that require knowledge and training for proper assessment. Conclusión: Extracardiac findings of distinct relevance were detected in 26.4% of patients. To analyse and to assess the importance of these findings is a fundamental part of the cardiac MRI report.

Keywords : Magnetic resonance imaging; Heart; Incidental findings; Report.