A review of incidental findings on low-resolution CT images during SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging : a clinical dilemma

Coward, J; Nightingale, JM; Hogg, P

Abstract

Incidental findings are common in medical imaging. There is a particularly high
prevalence of incidental findings within the thorax, the most frequent being
pulmonary nodules. Whilst pulmonary nodules have the potential to be
malignant, the vast majority will be benign, resulting in a high number of falsepositive
findings. Low-resolution CT images produced during attenuation
correction (AC) during single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) are
essentially a by-product of the process. The high number of false-positive
incidental findings detected on CTAC images causes a reporting dilemma. Early
detection of cancer can be beneficial but false-positive findings and over
diagnosis can be detrimental to the patient. CTAC images are not diagnostic
quality and further diagnostic tests are usually necessary for definitive diagnosis
to be reached. Given the high number of false-positive findings, the
psychological effects and harms to the patient should be given consideration.
This review recommends that caution should be taken when routine reporting of
CTAC images occurs.

Citation

Coward, J., Nightingale, J., & Hogg, P. (2016). A review of incidental findings on low-resolution CT images during SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging : a clinical dilemma. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 44(3), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.116.174557

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 4, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 20, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 21, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Print ISSN: 0091-4916
• Electronic ISSN: 1535-5675
• Publisher: Society of Nuclear Medicine
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 167-172
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.116.174557
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.116.174557
• Related Public URLs: http://tech.snmjournals.org/