Radiological examinations are often prescribed for patients to enable healthcare professionals to diagnose their pathology, monitor its evolution over time, and inform medical decision-making. X-rays often confirm an expected diagnosis, such as a fracture or infection. But sometimes, a radiological examination produces unexpected results. 

How do these incidental findings play an important role for the patient, and how do they contribute to the continuous improvement of medical management? 

What is an incidental finding in radiology?

During a medical imaging examination, an incidental finding (also known as an incidentaloma) is the discovery of an anomaly or pathology through an unexpected detection. An incidental discovery is identified by chance and has no correlation with the initial prescription. 

This is the case, for example, of a CT scan designed to image a fracture that reveals the presence of a previously undiagnosed tumor. 

While the term incidentaloma, coined in 1982, referred specifically to the detection of a mass during an imaging examination, it now encompasses the discovery of any anomaly or pathology not initially tested for. 

Incidental findings are not uncommon, occurring in 15% to 20% of imaging examinations. However, these discoveries are often benign: only 1% are considered serious.

The benefits of incidental findings for the patient

Although an incidental finding may come as a surprise to the patient, it actually offers several advantages. The incidental detection of a serious illness means it can be treated earlier. 65% of kidney cancers are detected incidentally. Early identification increases the chances of successful treatment and reduces long-term complications. Identifying benign anomalies is also important. Their progress can be monitored regularly to detect any worsening immediately.

In fact, incidental findings reduce patient anxiety by giving them greater understanding and control over their medical situation. In some cases, patients can also adapt their lifestyle to limit the effects of the new pathology detected.

The benefits of incidentalomas for medical staff

Above all, incidental findings offer healthcare staff the opportunity to adjust the patient’s care to his or her actual condition. Follow-up protocols can then be put in place, and additional tests can be prescribed to learn more about the anomaly. In some cases, the discovery of hereditary or genetic pathologies also enables monitoring to be set up for other members of the patient’s family.

The use of post-processing software facilitates interdisciplinary communication and improved protocols, as in the case of Olea Medical’s solutions for post-processing MRI and CT images. As well as improving image quality, segmenting images and offering 3D visualization, these solutions also enable standardized reports to be generated, and information on incidental findings to be easily shared with other medical teams. They also enable specialists to better explain to patients any anomalies found incidentally.

Finally, incidentalomas contribute to the development of medical research. They can be used for prevalence studies, to enrich databases for epidemiological analyses, and so on.

Medical imaging plays a central role in incidental findings, which provide an opportunity for medical staff to treat pathologies at an earlier stage, and to closely monitor their progress in order to reduce the risks for patients. In this context, medical image post-processing software enables specialists to better understand the nature of incidentalomas, while optimizing interdisciplinary and patient communication.