Scan met tact, herken het artefact

Scan with tact, beware the artefact This case report underscores the importance of being vigilant about imaging artifacts when interpreting diagnostic results. This is particularly crucial in CT angiography, where flow artifacts can erroneously be interpreted as thrombosis, potentially leading to misdiagnosis, overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments. We discuss the case of a 62-year-old man with acute thoracic pain. An initial CT scan suggested a large thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC). However, re-evaluation by multiple radiologists revealed that the finding was actually an artifact. The discrepancy between the imaging studies ultimately led to the conclusion that the initial CT likely showed a false positive result. This case illustrates how imaging artifacts can mimic serious pathologies and highlights the necessity of a cautious and informed approach to imaging interpretation. Clinicians are reminded to always correlate imaging findings with the clinical presentation, maintaining awareness of the potential for artifacts. In cases of unexpected findings without corresponding clinical symptoms, the possibility of artifacts should be considered and additional imaging studies may be warranted to confirm the diagnosis. Close collaboration between radiologists and clinicians is essential to clarify ambiguous findings and prevent unnecessary or harmful interventions. In conclusion, while advanced imaging techniques such as CT angiography provide powerful diagnostic tools, they are not immune to artifacts. A critical and reflective approach, combined with multidisciplinary consultation, can help avoid misinterpretation and contribute to accurate and patient-centered diagnostics.