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.

Example of spectral, or dual-energy CT, confirming a pulmonary embolism (PE). Image courtesy of Philips Healthcare

MRA vs CTA for evaluating pulmonary embolism: Does the chosen modality impact downstream imaging utilization?

MR angiography (MRA) is a relatively new alternative to CT angiography (CTA) for the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and it even has one major advantage over CTA: it does not expose patients to ionizing radiation.

May 3, 2018

James K. Min named editor-in-chief of Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

James K. Min, MD, has been chosen to be the new editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (JCCT), the official journal of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT). He will serve a five-year term.

May 1, 2018

Non-hospital-based facilities offering cardiac imaging services a rarity in Massachusetts

In 2017, Anthem implemented a new policy that requires outpatient MR and CT scans not considered medically necessary to be completed at a freestanding imaging facility to receive coverage. This went into effect in several states, sparking its fair share of controversy along the way, and a team of Boston-based researchers wanted to know how such a policy could impact patient care in Massachusetts.

March 5, 2018

Seeing the Big Picture: Training Today’s Imagers to ‘Think Multimodality’

Cardiologists are receiving more exposure to different imaging modalities during their fellowships, but their job prospects and training vary widely. A more comprehensive and multimodality training approach could lead to better results.

January 18, 2018

SCCT honors three young physicians

Three physicians were named finalists for the 10th annual Toshiba Young Investigators Awards, according to an announcement from the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT).

June 3, 2016

Budoff wins SCCT’s 2016 gold medal award

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) announced that Matthew J. Budoff, MD, had won its 2016 Gold Medal Award.

April 25, 2016

Fine Line: Gender Disparities in Cardiac Disease Management

Imaging often the bedrock for first diagnosing and then treating cardiac disease remains challenging and inconsistent in women.

November 28, 2011

Example of a curved MPR image reconstruction of entire length of of a coronary artery on a cardiac CT scan to better show calcified and soft plaque burden inside the vessel. The thumbnail dots on the left side of the image are cross sectional views of the vessel. Siemens example on the expo floor.

The CCTA Playbook: A Guide to Coding, Reimbursement and Operations

A compendium of the business intelligence required to launch a CCTA service

March 2, 2009

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.