Extracardiac findings on coronary computed tomography angiography in patients without significant coronary artery disease

Objective To analyse extracardiac findings in patients without significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in general and in symptomatic patients in particular. Methods We searched the Radiology Information System database for coronary computed tomography angiographies (CTA) performed from 2000−2014 and retrospectively enrolled 3,898 patients without significant CAD (coronary stenosis < 50%) in CTA. In 2,330 symptomatic patients, we analysed the spectrum of extracardiac findings and identified pathologies potentially explaining chest pain. Finally, we investigated variables affecting the number of extracardiac findings detected in CTA. Results Overall extracardiac findings were found in 1,177 patients (30.2%; 95%CI, 28.8−31.7%). 94 patients (2.4%; 95%CI, 2.0−2.9%) had extracardiac findings with a recommendation for follow-up, sixteen patients (0.4%; 95%CI, 0.3−0.7%) had incidental urgent, and another three patients (0.1%; 95%CI, 0.1−0.2%) had incidental malignant extracardiac findings. 185 of 2,330 symptomatic patients (7.9%; 95%CI, 6.9−9.1%) revealed extracardiac findings potentially explaining chest pain after exclusion of significant CAD. The number of extracardiac findings increased significantly with patient age ( p < 0.001) and the cumulative experience of the CT reader ( p < 0.001). Conclusion 30.2% of patients undergoing CTA for exclusion of CAD had ECF, and 7.9% of symptomatic patients without significant CAD on their examination had findings that could potentially explain their symptoms. Key Points • Of patients undergoing CTA, 2.8% have relevant incidental extracardiac findings. • CTA could identify the differential diagnosis of chest pain when excluding significant CAD. • Patient age and reader’s professional experience influence the number of detected ECFs.