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Incidental findings from lung CT scans: Implications for research
Author(s) -
Aldington Sarah,
Shirtcliffe Philippa,
Nowitz Mike,
KingzettTaylor Andrew,
Tweed Mike,
Weatherall Mark,
Soriano Joan B,
Beasley Richard
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1754-9485
pISSN - 1754-9477
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-9485.2010.02224.x
Subject(s) - medicine , abnormality , context (archaeology) , cannabis , confidence interval , odds ratio , referral , thorax (insect anatomy) , computed tomography , radiology , family medicine , psychiatry , paleontology , anatomy , biology
We aimed to evaluate the number and nature of incidental findings in CT chest scans in the context of a study of the pulmonary effects of cannabis. Methods: Three hundred fifty‐seven participants were recruited: 78 cannabis‐only smokers, 92 tobacco‐only smokers, 106 smokers of cannabis and tobacco and 81 never smokers. All participants underwent a high‐resolution CT scan of their thorax. Two radiologists read the scans. Associations between abnormalities and age, sex, tobacco and cannabis smoking status were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Results: Seventy‐six findings requiring referral or further investigations were found in 71/357 (19.9%) of participants. In multivariate analyses, only older age, OR (per decade) 2.1 (1.4 to 3.0), was associated with a respiratory abnormality on the CT scan. A total of 37/76 (48.7%) of the abnormalities detected were extra‐pulmonary, with findings observed across a wide range of organ systems. Only older age, OR (per decade) 1.7 (1.2 to 2.5), was associated with a non‐respiratory abnormality. Conclusion: The common occurrence of abnormal findings requiring referral or further investigations raises practical, ethical and medico‐legal issues which need to be carefully considered in research programmes utilising chest CT scanning.