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Table 2 Reportable and Incidental Findings for Study Cohort with National Prevalence, Recommendations, and Potential Implications of Condition

From: Communicating incidental and reportable findings from research MRIs: considering factors beyond the findings in an underrepresented pediatric population

Condition

Study Proportion

Population Prevalence

Recommendations

Implication and Differential Diagnosis

Cholelithiasis

2.3% (2)

1.9–4.0% [34]*

• Evaluation by PCP.

• If child develops abdominal pain, vomiting, or fever, please go to the ED.

• No evidence of inflammation most likely indicates no acute health problems.

Horseshoe kidney

1.2% (1)

0.16% [35]*

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Referral to Pediatric Nephrologist.

• Increased risk for hydronephrosis, urinary obstruction, renal calculi, and urinary tract infections.

Left lung lesion

1.2% (1)

Not applicable

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Referral to Pediatric Pulmonologist.

• Possible causes include pneumonia, granulomatous disease, and metastatic cancer.

Hepatic cyst

1.2% (1)

2.5% [36]

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Referral to Pediatric Gastroenterologist.

• Liver ultrasound.

• Most likely benign, however other possible causes include neoplasm, abscess, and hemangioma.

Renal cyst

2.3% (2)

0.1–0.25% (ADPKD) [37]*

0.003–0.01% (ARPKD) [37]*

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Referral to Pediatric Nephrologist.

• Renal ultrasound.

• Most likely benign, however may represent congenital or acquired polycystic kidney disease.

Ovarian cyst(s)

2.3% (2)

6–20% [38]

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Most likely benign and will resolve without intervention.

• May be suggestive of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Severely elevated liver fat > 10%a,b

16.3% (14)

9.6% [39]*

• Evaluation by PCP.

• Referral to Pediatric Gastroenterologist.

• Most likely etiology is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, however, cannot rule out other potential causes of liver fat.

  1. Abbreviations: ADPKD = Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease; ARPKD = Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease; ED = Emergency Department; PCP = Primary Care Physician
  2. *Asterisk indicates the population prevalence is specific to pediatrics
  3. a This is based on prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as defined by liver fat > 5.5%. NAFLD prevalence increases among Hispanic youth (11.8%) and youth with obesity (38%)
  4. b Severely elevated liver fat was deemed a reportable finding based upon discussions with the IRB