CCTA is a safe, effective alternative to SPECT in patients with stable chest pain
New evidence supports coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as a safe and effective alternative to single photon emission CT (SPECT) for evaluating patients with stable chest pain.
The findings come by way of the RESCUE Trial, which included more than 1,000 participants from 44 different sites. Researchers reported no difference in outcomes between those who received CCTA versus SPECT as an initial imaging test to guide their therapy or treatment.
The full results were published Dec. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“The RESCUE trial provides further evidence for a CCTA first strategy for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with symptoms of stable angina," Arthur E. Stillman, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study and director of cardiothoracic imaging at Emory University School of Medicine, said in a statement.
The trial was a randomized, controlled investigation funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network Fund for Imaging Innovation. The study began in 2011 and was completed in 2014.
“We are pleased to add the RESCUE trial data to the literature providing further evidence in support of CCTA’s ability to exclude left main disease and in directing patients to either revascularization and optimal medical therapy, or OMT alone in patients with symptoms of stable angina,” co-investigator Pamela K. Woodard, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology Commission on Clinical Research, added.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.