Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and nature of extracardiac incidental findings in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) scans before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort teleradiology study analyzed 33 patients' pre-TAVI CT scans. The study identified and categorized incidental extracardiac findings, highlighting significant findings and those of clear or potential malignancy. Results: All participants in the study had at least one incidental extracardiac finding, with a total of 115 occurrences of 43 different types being recorded. The most common findings were spinal degenerative disc disease, renal cysts, pulmonary edema, and pleural effusions. 73% of the cohort were identified as having clinically significant extracardiac findings. In terms of clearly or potentially malignant findings, these were observed in 42% of the cohort, including renal cell carcinoma, large paratracheal soft tissue mass, multinodular thyroid gland, lung nodules, and prostate enlargement. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant occurrence of extracardiac incidental findings, many of which are clearly or potentially malignant, in pre-TAVI CT scans. These findings underscore the necessity for thorough pre-procedural evaluations in TAVI candidates, as they can influence patient management and outcomes. Future research should aim for larger, multicenter, prospective studies to understand better