High number of incidental findings in polytrauma CT

Incidental findings may be prevalent in whole-body computed tomography among patients who have experienced multiple severe injuries, known as polytrauma.

In a retrospective study published in Insights Into Imaging, investigators assessed trauma-related pathologies and incidental findings in a group of nearly 1,500 patients who underwent whole-body computed tomography following polytrauma. They then developed a classification system to categorize the incidental findings on the basis of severity.

The percentage of patients with trauma-related pathologies and incidental findings were comparable, and most of the patients with incidental findings had multiple. Incidental findings most commonly appeared in the abdomen, thorax, head, pelvis and neck and were influenced by age and sex. The investigators established five degrees of severity in which the incidental findings could be classified: variant, benign, follow-up, needs clarification and needs treatment. The final three categories required monitoring, further investigation or immediate care.

As a result of the high prevalence of incidental findings, the investigators hope their classification system can help prompt further evaluation and treatment to address patients’ previously unforeseen needs.

Read more: Insights Into Imaging

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