Incidence and Significance of Serendipitous CT Findings in the Oncologic Patient

Abstract

Computed tomograms (1000) of the abdomen, chest and pelvis in oncologic patients were reviewed to determine the incidence of serendipitous findings and their impact on clinical management. The incidence of serendipitous findings was 30% in thorax, 24% in genitourinary and osseous structures, 23% in the abdomen and 21% in the retroperitoneum. These serendipitous abnormalities changed clinical management or required further diagnostic procedures (thus, they were considered significant) in < 1% of the abdominal findings ranging up to 12% in the osseous findings.