Computed Tomography

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has become a primary cardiovascular imaging modality in the past 20 years, and was recommended as a 1A recommendation in the 2021 chest pain assessment guidelines. CT calcium scoring has became a primary risk assessment for coronary artery disease and whether patients should be on statins. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is used to for anatomical assessment of the arteries for plaque burden and to identify areas of blockage that may cause ischemia and heart attacks. Additional use of contrast CT perfusion or fractional flow reserve CT (FFR-CT) can offer physiological information on the function of the heart. CT plays a primary role in structural heart assessments for heart valves, repair of congenital defects and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for both pre-procedure planning and procedural guidance. Find more news on general radiology CT use.

‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT
CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.
FDA clears AI tool that flags signs of heart disease in chest CT scans
The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer.
AI-enabled plaque assessments help cardiologists ID high-risk CAD patients
AI-enabled coronary plaque assessments deliver significant value, according to late-breaking data presented at TCT. These AI platforms have gained considerable momentum in recent months, receiving expanded Medicare coverage in addition to a new Category I CPT code.
Abbott CGM sensors can now be worn during common imaging procedures
Sensors from the FreeStyle Libre 2 and Libre 3 continuous glucose monitoring systems can now be worn during X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. The news represents a shift in policy from the FDA, one that came after the agency reviewed extensive testing data.
New data highlight long-term benefits of HeartFlow’s AI-based CAD evaluations
HeartFlow kicked off TCT 2024 by sharing new research on the long-term impact of its FFR_CT Analysis and Plaque Analysis software.

An example of a noninvasive coronary CT scan on the left and an invasive angiogram of the same patient on the right from a recent RSNA study. The CT shows more information on the calcified nature of the plaque and shows more anatomical information beyond what the angiogram provides.

CT a low-risk imaging alternative to invasive coronary angiography for suspected CAD

The new analysis focused on data from 16 different European countries.

March 4, 2022

RSNA21: Deep learning automatically labels coronary arteries to produce structured CCTA reports

The algorithm yielded a 94.4% accuracy for labeling arteries in accordance with the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography guidelines.

December 2, 2021

Imaging group says new guidelines for chest pain contain some ‘troubling recommendations’

The update is meant to help clinicians improve outcomes while reducing costs, but one advocate says certain imaging suggestions may cause unanticipated harm.

October 29, 2021

Radiologists should watch for these 3 pulmonary findings linked to increased COVID mortality

Experts looked beyond common pulmonary consolidations, finding a handful of accurate indicators of in-hospital mortality.

October 21, 2021

CAD-RADS a ‘big step in the right direction’ toward improving outcomes for acute chest pain

Korean researchers tested the Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System in nearly 1,500 patients treated across four hospital emergency departments.

July 20, 2021

Chest CT, perfusion imaging spots pulmonary embolism in 25% of hospitalized COVID patients

Men and smokers were particularly prone to this condition, which, if left untreated, carries an up to 30% mortality rate.

July 15, 2021

Radiologists utilize novel CAD-RADS in 95% of coronary CTA reports

Massachusetts General Hospital doctors analyzed Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System usage in their high-volume cardiac CT services center for the study.

July 7, 2021

New pulmonary embolism approach could substantially reduce imaging overuse

The pretest probability score produced false-negative rates below 1% and dropped imaging use by about 20%, according to a new JAMA Cardiology study.

March 4, 2021

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business

‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA clears AI tool that flags signs of heart disease in chest CT scans

The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer.