ABSTRACT
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) not only provides information about the heart, great vessels, and coronary arteries, but also about a portion of the lungs, mediastinum, chest wall, spine, and upper abdomen. Inevitably examinations of these additional structures will produce incidental findings that may be clinically insignificant but which may also be of clinical importance such as early cancer. Several studies have reported the prevalence of significant non-cardiac findings on CT calcium screening examinations. The incidence of significant non-cardiac incidental findings on cardiac CT scan was on average 7.1%, and the incidence of cardiac findings was 7.5%. Subsequent treatment was deemed necessary in approximately 2%. Correct identification and interpretation of incidental findings requires specific expertise which is best guaranteed by combined reading of the CT scans by a radiologist and cardiologist.
