Incidental findings on brain MRI in a cohort of diabetic patients

• Published in: Journal of neuroradiology Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 343 - 348
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Justes, D., Sanahuja, J., Diez, J., Rubinat, E., Begué, R., Salas, C., Vicandi, C., Gil, M.I., Purroy, F., Mauricio, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Brain MRI; Diabetes Complications - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Incidental Findings; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Referral findings; Retrospective Studies; SVD; ADC; AVM; Brain MRI; Referral findings; Incidental findings
• ISSN: 0150-9861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2018.07.005

To study the frequency and management of incidental findings in nonenhanced brain MRI of a middle-aged population of type 2 diabetic patients.
We retrospectively analyzed the results of 289 brain MRI obtained from subjects between 40–75 years recruited from a previous study. Incidental findings were classified into three categories: (1) Vascular findings; (2) neoplastic findings; and (3) others. On the other side, we made a classification of referral findings. To compare our results, we reviewed the prevalence and evidence about management of both incidental and referral findings in other series.
We found an overall prevalence of incidental findings of 10.4% (30/289). Incidental findings raised according to age. The most common incidental findings were: 7 vascular (2.4%), 6 calcifications (2.1%), 6 cystic (2.1%) and 5 neoplastic (1.7%) lesions. A percentage of 1.7% (5/289) were referral findings which required further clinical work-up.
Incidental findings are relatively common in patients with type 2 diabetes. The most frequent are vascular findings, accordance with previous studies. Referral findings are uncommon. Clinical evidence about how to best manage the majority of incidental findings is lacking.