Incidental Extracardiac Findings in Cardiac MRI

Abstract Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) has nowadays emerged as a novel noninvasive imaging technique which offers superior structural and functional evaluation of the heart. cMRI done with a large field of view, that consequently can detect incidental extracardiac findings (IEFs). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and significance of IEFs reported from clinically indicated cMRI scans. Aim of the Work To discuss prevalence of extra-cardiac incidental findings in cardiac MRI. Patients and Methods Our study is a retrospective study that included patients who have done CMR from period July 2021 to July 2023. The study included 219 patients who were suspected as having cardiac diseases, referred to the Radiology department, Ain Shams University Hospitals for a cardiac MRI. Results A total of 219 studies were included in the analysis. The mean age of the subjects was (38.2 year), SD (±18.2), (range 1– 75 years). The male (62%) female (38%) male to female ratio was 1.6:1, From the 219 patients scanned, a total of 162(74%) patients without Extra-cardiac findings, 57(26%) patients with Extra-cardiac findings Conclusion A significant number of IEFs can be detected during cMRI, with high accuracy. It is therefore extremely important that whoever reports cMRI should be able to properly assess normal and abnormal thorax and superior abdominal findings. IEFs should be searched, for potentially modifying the clinical management of patients with such findings