Evaluation of Cardiac Pathologies in Standard Thoracic CT Imaging [CaPaCT]

A known disadvantage of constantly improving diagnostic imaging is the detection of incidental findings. Computed Tomography (CT) scanner technology is ever improving in both temporal and spatial resolution. Recently developed advanced reconstruction algorithms and dedicated post-processing software reduce image noise thereby improving image quality. Equipped with these advancements, modern CT scanners accomplish well defined imaging of cardiovascular structures. These technical improvements have enabled cardiac assessment on routine standard (non-ECG triggered) thoracic CT scans.

If thoracic radiologists are able to assess the heart and coronary arteries on a standard thoracic CT, this could result in an extensive amount of incidental cardiac findings. Herein lies the potential for large scale reporting of incidental cardiac findings and, consequently, a huge influx of new 'patients' for downstream testing and potential (over-)treatment.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a known comorbidity for multiple diseases, for example presence of CAD could require a different treatment strategy in lung cancer and worsen prognosis [Khakoo et al]. In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), the incidence of CAD is four times higher compared with the general population, and the risk of a cardiovascular event is two- to four-fold higher [Kannel et al. + Aktas et al.]. Therefore, the discussion on management and treatment of these patients with incidental cardiac findings on chest CT evidently is important. Unfortunately, to date no consensus has been reached on the management and reporting of these findings. The CaPaCT study (cardiac pathologies on standard thoracic CT) has been developed to evaluate the visibility and management of incidental cardiac pathologies on a ultra-high pitch thoracic CT-scan with help of the CAD-RADS classification.