Incidental extra-cardiac findings on 13 N-ammonia myocardial perfusion PET/CT

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of incidental extra-cardiac findings (iecfs) on myocardial perfusion pet/cts and the prevalence of potentially clinically relevant and clinically irrelevant iecfs, as well as detection rate of previously unknown malignancies. from 2013 until 2016, a total of 1397 consecutive patients referred for the evaluation of possible ischemia by 13nh3 pet/ct were prospectively included in a database. iecfs were categorized into three groups: potentially clinically relevant iecfs, iecfs that could potentially cause chest pain, and clinically irrelevant iecfs. additionally, the prevalence of previously unknown malignancies was determined. in 717 (51%) of these patients, 775 iecfs were reported and 115 iecfs were categorized as potentially clinically relevant in 109 (8%) patients. a total of 145 iecfs that could potentially cause chest pain were detected in 139 (10%) patients and 515 clinically irrelevant iecfs were detected in 469 (34%) of the patients. an unknown primary malignancy was histologically proven in 19 patients (1.4%). iecfs are detected on myocardial perfusion pet/ct in approximately half of the patients. in the present study, iecfs were potentially clinically relevant in 8% of the patients and in 1.4% an unknown malignancy was found, most of which were lung cancers.