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.

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Cardiologists ID signs of widespread heart disease in ancient mummies

Researchers evaluated vascular samples from more than 200 mummies, presenting their findings in European Heart Journal.

AI-based CAD assessments dramatically improve vascular surgery outcomes

PAD patients evaluated with HeartFlow's noninvasive FFRCT Analysis technology prior to surgery experienced much better outcomes, including a 63% lower risk of all-cause mortality after five years. 

Interview with Nehal Mehta, MD, Penn Medicine, who explains how coronary inflammation can be seen using AI on cardiac CT scans to better risk stratify patients and begin preventive drug therapy.

AI helps cardiologists track new drug's effect on inflammation

The combination of AI and CT helped Nehal Mehta, MD, and colleagues track the performance of a new drug designed to target coronary inflammation. 

Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston West Virginia, as been using the FDA-cleared RoadMap artificial intelligence algorithm from HeartFlow in studies and in clinical used since it was cleared and said it helps cardiologists in several ways. #ACC #ACC24 #ACC2024 #Heartflow #AIhealth

AI improves CT assessments, boosts care for real-world heart patients

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models can evaluate cardiovascular risk in routine chest CT scans without contrast, according to new research published in Nature Communications.[1] In fact, the authors noted, the AI approach may be more effective at identifying issues than relying on guidance from radiologists.

AI predicts cardiovascular risk during CT scans—no invasive tests or contrast required

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

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CT procedure shown to reduce need for invasive cardiac testing

In a study, CT-FFR was shown to reduce the need for invasive tests to measure coronary artery blockage from 74.5% to 25.5%.

First-in-human trial shows potential of guiding CABG with cardiac CT and AI—no ICA required

An independent heart team blinded to ICA results was able to deliver helpful guidance for CABG procedures for 99.1% of patients using just CCTA and FFRCT alone. This approach is safe and feasible, researchers wrote, and the next step is to gather additional data. 

Avicenna.AI, a French artificial intelligence (AI) startup co-founded by a radiologist, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for two new offerings designed to automatically identify cardiovascular findings in CT scans, CINA-iPE and CINA-ASPECTS.

Radiology AI company gains FDA clearance for new CT offerings focused on PE, stroke

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

Around the web

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.

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.

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. 

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