Cardiovascular Abnormalities Incidentally Detected on Helical CT Pulmonary Angiography: Spectrum of Findings

Abstract

Helical CT pulmonary angiography (HCTPA) is being increasingly used for the investigation of suspected pulmonary embolism. Because HCTPA involves the use of thin collimation and high contrast injection rates and volumetric acquisitions, it is ideally suited for evaluating the thoracic vascular system and may reveal numerous cardiovascular abnormalities unrelated to venous thromboembolism. Such abnormalities include systemic venous anomalies, atrial and ventricular masses, structural and congenital lesions of the pulmonary arteries, structural abnormalities of the interatrial septum, aortic and pericardial abnormalities, and abnormalities of surgical conduits and bypass grafts. Awareness of the imaging appearance of the various cardiovascular abnormalities that may be incidentally encountered with HCTPA will facilitate accurate diagnosis and may provide additional useful information in patients with negative studies.