Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Incidental findings are unrelated to a patient\'s complaint, found on diagnostic imaging, such as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Incidental findings represent potential harms to patients and may lead to increased patient anxiety and health care costs related to downstream testing and surveillance.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to calculate the rate of incidental renal cysts found by POCUS. Further, we hoped to describe how emergency physicians relay the findings to patients. Lastly, we hoped to examine if patients suffered harms in the 12 months following identification of an incidental renal cyst.
METHODS: From our single-center, academic emergency department (ED), we reviewed renal POCUS images from 1000 consecutive adult ED patients to determine if there was a renal cyst. Next, we performed manual chart review to determine if patients were informed of the incidental renal cyst or suffered any patient harms.
RESULTS: We found the prevalence of renal cysts to be 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 4.9%-8.4%). Those with cysts were more likely to be older compared to those without (63 ± 14 vs. 49 ± 15 years of age). Only 8% of patients had evidence that they were informed of their incidental renal cyst. No patients received a biopsy or were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma or polycystic kidney disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Incidental renal cysts are common and are more likely to be found in older adults. In our study, physicians infrequently informed patients of their incidental finding.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to calculate the rate of incidental renal cysts found by POCUS. Further, we hoped to describe how emergency physicians relay the findings to patients. Lastly, we hoped to examine if patients suffered harms in the 12 months following identification of an incidental renal cyst.
METHODS: From our single-center, academic emergency department (ED), we reviewed renal POCUS images from 1000 consecutive adult ED patients to determine if there was a renal cyst. Next, we performed manual chart review to determine if patients were informed of the incidental renal cyst or suffered any patient harms.
RESULTS: We found the prevalence of renal cysts to be 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 4.9%-8.4%). Those with cysts were more likely to be older compared to those without (63 ± 14 vs. 49 ± 15 years of age). Only 8% of patients had evidence that they were informed of their incidental renal cyst. No patients received a biopsy or were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma or polycystic kidney disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Incidental renal cysts are common and are more likely to be found in older adults. In our study, physicians infrequently informed patients of their incidental finding.
摘要：
背景：偶然发现与患者的投诉无关，在诊断成像上发现，如现场护理超声（POCUS）。偶然发现代表对患者的潜在危害，并可能导致患者焦虑和与下游检测和监测相关的医疗保健成本增加。
目的：在本研究中，我们的目的是计算POCUS发现的偶然肾囊肿的发生率。Further,我们希望描述急诊医生如何将发现传达给患者。最后,我们希望检查患者在发现偶发性肾囊肿后的12个月内是否遭受伤害。
方法：从我们的单中心，学术急诊科（ED），我们回顾了1000例连续成年ED患者的肾脏POCUS图像,以确定是否存在肾囊肿.接下来,我们进行了手动图表审查,以确定患者是否被告知偶发肾囊肿或遭受任何患者伤害.
结果：我们发现肾囊肿的患病率为6.5％（95％置信区间：4.9％-8.4％）。与没有囊肿的人相比，有囊肿的人更有可能年龄更大(63±14vs.49±15岁）。只有8％的患者有证据表明他们被告知其偶然的肾囊肿。没有患者接受活检或被诊断为肾细胞癌或多囊肾疾病。
结论：偶发性肾囊肿是常见的，并且在老年人中更容易发现。在我们的研究中,医生很少告知患者他们的偶然发现。
目的：在本研究中，我们的目的是计算POCUS发现的偶然肾囊肿的发生率。Further,我们希望描述急诊医生如何将发现传达给患者。最后,我们希望检查患者在发现偶发性肾囊肿后的12个月内是否遭受伤害。
方法：从我们的单中心，学术急诊科（ED），我们回顾了1000例连续成年ED患者的肾脏POCUS图像,以确定是否存在肾囊肿.接下来,我们进行了手动图表审查,以确定患者是否被告知偶发肾囊肿或遭受任何患者伤害.
结果：我们发现肾囊肿的患病率为6.5％（95％置信区间：4.9％-8.4％）。与没有囊肿的人相比，有囊肿的人更有可能年龄更大(63±14vs.49±15岁）。只有8％的患者有证据表明他们被告知其偶然的肾囊肿。没有患者接受活检或被诊断为肾细胞癌或多囊肾疾病。
结论：偶发性肾囊肿是常见的，并且在老年人中更容易发现。在我们的研究中,医生很少告知患者他们的偶然发现。
