Sawako Horie, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nobusada Funabashi MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Takashi Higashide MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Toshiki Kazama MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hiroyuki Takaoka MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Masae Uehara MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Koya Ozawa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wakako Kaneko MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hajime Yokota MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ken Motoori MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ryota Shimofusa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshio Kobayashi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

We compared non-cardiac findings, in particular lung findings, by a cardiologist with those by a radiologist in 320 slice CT heart images.

Non-cardiac findings using full field view electrocardiogram gated 320 slice CT (Aquilion one, Toshiba Medical) heart images acquired from 96 consecutive subjects (55 male; mean age, 63.8 yrs) were analyzed retrospectively by a cardiologist and by a radiologist team without any clinical data, and the findings of each examiner were compared. Of the subjects, 48 underwent only heart imaging (Group 1), and 48 underwent whole thorax imaging for additional evaluation of thoracic aorta or pulmonary embolism (Group 2).

Of the 96 subjects, non-cardiac findings were reported in 31 subjects by the cardiologist and 51 subjects by the radiologists. In Group 1, suspected lung cancer, interstitial pneumonia, benign or inflammation lung disease, findings that should be followed up, and previously known non-cardiac findings were reported in 0, 0, 4, 10 and 1 subject, respectively, by the cardiologist and 1, 5, 13, 2 and 1 subjects, respectively, by the radiologists. In Group 2, suspected lung cancer, interstitial pneumonia, benign or inflammation lung disease, findings that should be followed up, and previously known non-cardiac findings were reported in 0, 0, 6, 9 and 1 subject, respectively, by the cardiologist and 2, 5, 19, 1 and 2 subjects, respectively, by the radiologists. In three subjects who were diagnosed as lung cancer by radiologists, only two were diagnosed as findings that should be followed by the cardiologist.

Among 97 subjects, 3 were de novo lung cancer diagnosed by radiologists. Of these, one was diagnosed using only heart images, and two were diagnosed by the cardiologist as findings that should be followed up. One lung cancer subject was missed when analysis was performed only by the cardiologist, and, therefore, non-cardiac findings should be evaluated by radiologists.

Even when using only heart images, non-cardiac and lung findings on CT should be evaluated by radiologists, and cardiologists should examine full field thoracic images when possible.

Horie, S, Funabashi, N, Higashide, T, Kazama, T, Takaoka, H, Uehara, M, Ozawa, K, Kaneko, W, Yokota, H, Motoori, K, Shimofusa, R, Kobayashi, Y, Comparison of Non-cardiac Findings by a Cardiologist with Those by a Radiologist in 320 Slice CT Images.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12034823.html