Important Non-cardiac CT Findings

Incidental non-cardiac pathology is commonly noted when reporting cardiac CT results. The most frequently detected non-cardiac findings are lung nodules. While most non-cardiac findings are benign, an important proportion requires further investigation and/or treatment. These findings also may suggest alternative diagnoses for the patient’s symptoms or represent important but clinically silent conditions, such as lung cancer. Cardiac CT readers should be familiar with common and significant non-cardiac findings. A systematic approach to the evaluation of non-cardiac structures is recommended, using the maximum field of view (FOV) and appropriate window level/width settings. Review of prior reference images is often critical to assess the significance of non-cardiac findings.