T Ergun1, H Lakadamyali. 1. Department of Radiology, Alanya Teaching and Medical Research Center, Baskent University School Medicine, Alanya, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To define the age-related prevalence of incidental soft-tissue findings in cervical CT scans of a trauma population and to investigate their clinical importance. METHODS: The original diagnostic radiology reports and the CT images of the 357 patients with cervical trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Incidental soft-tissue findings were investigated. All findings were grouped according to age. The findings were classified based on their clinical importance into three categories: Category 1: no clinical importance, Category 2: possible clinical importance requiring further investigation and Category 3: obvious clinical importance. In addition, the medical records of the patients were investigated. The follow-up ratio of the pathologies mentioned in the original radiology report was recorded. RESULTS: The most frequently encountered findings in Categories 2 and 3 were carotid artery calcification (n = 89, 24.9%) and tonsillolith (n = 115, 32.2%), respectively. The reporting ratio in the original reports of Categories 1, 2 and 3 findings was 1.1% (n = 4), 9% (n = 27) and 34.5% (n = 64), respectively. No further investigations and follow-up was accomplished for Category 1 lesions, whereas 11.1% of Category 2 and 35.9% of Category 3 lesions were subjected to further investigations and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The cervical CT scans of trauma patients reveal many clinically important soft-tissue incidental findings. Cervical region incidental findings may be followed up on an outpatient basis, rarely being of life-threatening value. The ratio of reporting and follow-up of incidental findings increases parallel to the clinical importance of the lesions.
OBJECTIVES: To define the age-related prevalence of incidental soft-tissue findings in cervical CT scans of a trauma population and to investigate their clinical importance. METHODS: The original diagnostic radiology reports and the CT images of the 357 patients with cervical trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Incidental soft-tissue findings were investigated. All findings were grouped according to age. The findings were classified based on their clinical importance into three categories: Category 1: no clinical importance, Category 2: possible clinical importance requiring further investigation and Category 3: obvious clinical importance. In addition, the medical records of the patients were investigated. The follow-up ratio of the pathologies mentioned in the original radiology report was recorded. RESULTS: The most frequently encountered findings in Categories 2 and 3 were carotid artery calcification (n = 89, 24.9%) and tonsillolith (n = 115, 32.2%), respectively. The reporting ratio in the original reports of Categories 1, 2 and 3 findings was 1.1% (n = 4), 9% (n = 27) and 34.5% (n = 64), respectively. No further investigations and follow-up was accomplished for Category 1 lesions, whereas 11.1% of Category 2 and 35.9% of Category 3 lesions were subjected to further investigations and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The cervical CT scans of traumapatients reveal many clinically important soft-tissue incidental findings. Cervical region incidental findings may be followed up on an outpatient basis, rarely being of life-threatening value. The ratio of reporting and follow-up of incidental findings increases parallel to the clinical importance of the lesions.
Authors: Suzette E Elias-Smale; Arlette E Odink; Renske G Wieberdink; Albert Hofman; Myriam G M Hunink; Gabriel P Krestin; Peter J Koudstaal; Monique M B Breteler; Aad van der Lugt; Jacqueline C M Witteman Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2010-06-30 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Raoul van Vugt; Helena M Dekker; Jaap Deunk; Rozemarijn J van der Vijver; Arie B van Vugt; Digna R Kool; Monique Brink; Michael J R Edwards Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2011-04-29 Impact factor: 3.313