Extra-cardiac findings in cardiovascular magnetic resonance: what the imaging cardiologist needs to know. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodrigues, Jonathan; Lyen, Stephen; Loughborough, William; Amadu, Antonio; Baritussio, Anna; Dastidar, Amardeep; Manghat, Nathan; Bucciarelli-Ducci, Chiara
• Is Part Of: Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Volume 18:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Extra-cardiac findings -- Extra-cardiac pathology -- Incidental findings -- Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance -- CMR; Cardiovascular system -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; 616.1207548
• DOI: 10.1186/s12968-016-0246-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1097-6647

Abstract

Abstract Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is an established non-invasive technique to comprehensively assess cardiovascular structure and function in a variety of acquired and inherited cardiac conditions. A significant amount of the neck, thorax and upper abdomen are imaged at the time of routine clinical CMR, particularly in the initial multi-slice axial and coronal images. The discovery of unsuspected disease at the time of imaging has ethical, financial and medico-legal implications. Extra-cardiac findings at the time of CMR are common, can be important and can change clinical management. Certain patient groups undergoing CMR are at particular risk of important extra-cardiac findings as several of the cardiovascular risk factors for atherosclerosis are also risk factors for malignancy. Furthermore, the presence of certain extra-cardiac findings may contribute to the interpretation of the primary cardiac pathology as some cardiac conditions have multi-systemic extra-cardiac involvement. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the type of extra-cardiac findings that may become apparent on CMR, subdivided by anatomical location. We focus on normal variant anatomy that may mimic disease, common incidental extra-cardiac findings and important imaging signs that help distinguish sinister pathology from benign disease. We also aim to provide a framework to the approach and potential further diagnostic work-up of incidental extra-cardiac findings discovered at the time of CMR. However, it is beyond the scope of this review to discuss and determine the clinical significance of extracardiac findings at CMR.