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Open Access 01-06-2013 | Original Article

Extra-spinal incidental findings at lumbar spine MRI in the general population: a large cohort study

Authors: Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi, Alessandro Giona, Alberto Corrado Di Martino, Yuri Errante, Laura Scarciolla, Carlo Augusto Mallio, Vincenzo Denaro, Bruno Beomonte Zobel

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence of clinically and non-clinically relevant extra-spinal incidental findings (IF) in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine and to evaluate the rate of undetected findings in archived radiological reports.

Methods

A retrospective search of patients undergoing lumbar spine MRI from January 2006 to December 2010 was conducted. By means of randomisation, we retrospectively reviewed 3,000 lumbar spine MRI examinations. Extra-spinal abnormalities were classified according to a modified CT Colonography Reporting and Data System (C-RADS). We retrospectively compared our structured approach with the archived MRI reports as it regarded the detection of extra-spinal IF to estimate non-detection rates.

Results

By means of the structured approach used, extra-spinal findings were detected in 2,060 (68.6 %) of the 3,000 lumbar spine MRI examinations; 362 (17.6 %) patients had indeterminate or clinically important findings (E3 and E4) requiring clinical correlation or further evaluation. After review of the original archived radiological reports, potentially important C-RADS E3 and E4 extra-spinal IF were respectively reported in 47 of the 265 (17.7 %) and in 8 of 74 (10.8 %) patients.

Conclusions

Our study shows that incidental extra-spinal findings at conventional lumbar spine MRI are common but underestimated in radiological reports.

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Title: Extra-spinal incidental findings at lumbar spine MRI in the general population: a large cohort study
Authors: Carlo Cosimo Quattrocchi
Alessandro Giona
Alberto Corrado Di Martino
Yuri Errante
Laura Scarciolla
Carlo Augusto Mallio
Vincenzo Denaro
Bruno Beomonte Zobel
Publication date: 01-06-2013
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Insights into Imaging / Issue 3/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-013-0234-z

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Extra-spinal incidental findings at lumbar spine MRI in the general population: a large cohort study

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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