Incidental Cardiovascular Findings on Chest CT

This book provides essential information regarding incidental cardiovascular findings on routine computed tomography (CT). Routine chest CT is currently one of the most performed imaging studies in clinical practice as well as in emergency or elective settings for various indications. Before the development of multi-slice CT, the heart was overlooked on chest CT by radiologists owing to the non-diagnostic heart image quality caused by several artifacts affecting the heart. Recent advances in CT technology, however, allow currently acceptable image quality to analyze the heart and vessels without the need for electrocardiogram gating. Several studies and guidelines have demonstrated and emphasized the importance of detecting and reporting incidental cardiovascular findings on routine chest CT, which may encompass a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from benign anatomical variations or curiosity regarding both benign and malignant discoveries to life-threatening outcomes that may require urgent therapy. This book includes descriptions of common artifacts, practical advice and tips for depicting incidental cardiovascular findings and discusses current guidelines for their management. Chapters describe common and uncommon incidental findings, through more than 300 detailed, high-quality images. It serves as a quick, one stop reference tool and ideal guide for general radiologists and other physicians involved in cardiovascular care, including cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.