Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study.
Incidental findings in neuroimaging occur in 3% of volunteers. Most data come from young subjects. Data on their occurrence in older subjects and their medical, lifestyle and financial consequences are lacking. We determined the prevalence and medical consequences of incidental findings found in com...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2013-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744549?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819090398652399616 |
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| author | Elaine M Sandeman Maria Del Carmen Valdes Hernandez Zoe Morris Mark E Bastin Catherine Murray Alan J Gow Janie Corley Ross Henderson Ian J Deary John M Starr Joanna M Wardlaw |
| author_facet | Elaine M Sandeman Maria Del Carmen Valdes Hernandez Zoe Morris Mark E Bastin Catherine Murray Alan J Gow Janie Corley Ross Henderson Ian J Deary John M Starr Joanna M Wardlaw |
| author_sort | Elaine M Sandeman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Incidental findings in neuroimaging occur in 3% of volunteers. Most data come from young subjects. Data on their occurrence in older subjects and their medical, lifestyle and financial consequences are lacking. We determined the prevalence and medical consequences of incidental findings found in community-dwelling older subjects on brain magnetic resonance imaging.Prospective cohort observational study.Single centre study with input from secondary care.Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a study of cognitive ageing.Incidental findings identified by two consultant neuroradiologists on structural brain magnetic resonance imaging at age 73 years; resulting medical referrals and interventions.PREVALENCE OF INCIDENTAL FINDINGS BY INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES: neoplasms, cysts, vascular lesions, developmental, ear, nose or throat anomalies, by intra- and extracranial location; visual rating of white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy.There were 281 incidental findings in 223 (32%) of 700 subjects, including 14 intra- or extracranial neoplasms (2%), 15 intracranial vascular anomalies (2%), and 137 infarcts or haemorrhages (20%). Additionally, 153 had moderate/severe deep white matter hyperintensities (22%) and 176 had cerebral atrophy at, or above, the upper limit of normal (25%) compared with a normative population template. The incidental findings were unrelated to white matter hyperintensities or atrophy; about a third of subjects had both incidental findings and moderate or severe WMH and a quarter had incidental findings and atrophy. The incidental findings resulted in one urgent and nine non-urgent referrals for further medical assessment, but ultimately in no new treatments.In community-dwelling older subjects, incidental findings, including white matter hyperintensities and atrophy, were common. However, many findings were not of medical importance and, in this age group, most did not result in further assessment and none in change of treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:23:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c60f3680e8e44890b8e943bbe89b8436 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:23:12Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c60f3680e8e44890b8e943bbe89b84362022-12-21T18:48:17ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0188e7146710.1371/journal.pone.0071467Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study.Elaine M SandemanMaria Del Carmen Valdes HernandezZoe MorrisMark E BastinCatherine MurrayAlan J GowJanie CorleyRoss HendersonIan J DearyJohn M StarrJoanna M WardlawIncidental findings in neuroimaging occur in 3% of volunteers. Most data come from young subjects. Data on their occurrence in older subjects and their medical, lifestyle and financial consequences are lacking. We determined the prevalence and medical consequences of incidental findings found in community-dwelling older subjects on brain magnetic resonance imaging.Prospective cohort observational study.Single centre study with input from secondary care.Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a study of cognitive ageing.Incidental findings identified by two consultant neuroradiologists on structural brain magnetic resonance imaging at age 73 years; resulting medical referrals and interventions.PREVALENCE OF INCIDENTAL FINDINGS BY INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES: neoplasms, cysts, vascular lesions, developmental, ear, nose or throat anomalies, by intra- and extracranial location; visual rating of white matter hyperintensities and brain atrophy.There were 281 incidental findings in 223 (32%) of 700 subjects, including 14 intra- or extracranial neoplasms (2%), 15 intracranial vascular anomalies (2%), and 137 infarcts or haemorrhages (20%). Additionally, 153 had moderate/severe deep white matter hyperintensities (22%) and 176 had cerebral atrophy at, or above, the upper limit of normal (25%) compared with a normative population template. The incidental findings were unrelated to white matter hyperintensities or atrophy; about a third of subjects had both incidental findings and moderate or severe WMH and a quarter had incidental findings and atrophy. The incidental findings resulted in one urgent and nine non-urgent referrals for further medical assessment, but ultimately in no new treatments.In community-dwelling older subjects, incidental findings, including white matter hyperintensities and atrophy, were common. However, many findings were not of medical importance and, in this age group, most did not result in further assessment and none in change of treatment.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744549?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Elaine M Sandeman Maria Del Carmen Valdes Hernandez Zoe Morris Mark E Bastin Catherine Murray Alan J Gow Janie Corley Ross Henderson Ian J Deary John M Starr Joanna M Wardlaw Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. PLoS ONE |
| title | Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. |
| title_full | Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. |
| title_fullStr | Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. |
| title_short | Incidental findings on brain MR imaging in older community-dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare: a cohort study. |
| title_sort | incidental findings on brain mr imaging in older community dwelling subjects are common but serious medical consequences are rare a cohort study |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3744549?pdf=render |
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