Cardiac Imaging

While cardiac ultrasound is the widely used imaging modality for heart assessments, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging are also used and are often complimentary, each offering specific details about the heart other modalities cannot. For this reason the clinical question being asked often determines the imaging test that will be used.

Mark Rabbat, MD, director of cardica CT at Loyola, discusses legislative advocacy efforts by SCCT to gain wider reimbursement for cardiac CT. #SCCT #SCCT23 #SCCT2023

SCCT hopes to increase cardiac CT reimbursements through advocacy

Mark Rabbat, MD, discusses the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography's efforts to make an impact by lobbying in Washington. 

Video of ASNC President Mouaz Al-Mallah, MD, explaining some long-COVID cardiac symptoms might be due to coronary microvascular dysfunction. He was part of a recent study that used PET top assess myocardial perfusion that found there is impaired microvascular flow in long-COVID patients.

PET imaging helps assess coronary microvascular dysfunction in long COVID patients

Researchers noted that patients appeared to have myocarditis at first, but a closer examination revealed it was something else entirely. 

Video interview with Martha Gulati, MD, was the lead author of the 2021 chest pain guidelines and shares impacts.

Cardiac CT gaining popularity due to chest pain guidelines, cost savings

Cardiologist Martha Gulati, MD, lead author of the 2021 chest pain guidelines, explained how the document may have contributed to the rise of cardiac CT. "These guidelines have made it harder for people to push back and say you don't need this test," she said. 

Video interview with ASNC President President Mouaz Al-Mallah, MD, who explains why nuclear cardiology needs to upgrade its technology to be competitive. #ASNC #ASNC2023 #ASNC23

Previewing ASNC 2023: Why nuclear cardiology needs to evolve

ASNC President President Mouaz Al-Mallah, MD, said nuclear cardiology needs to upgrade old imaging systems and embrace new technology to deliver better value for patients. 

FFR-CT helps determine when CAD patients face a limited risk of adverse outcomes within 3 years

Researchers examined the "prognostic potential" of this advanced imaging modality. 

Ritu Thamman, MD, FASE, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, discusses trends and the technical aspects of strain imaging. #ASE #ASE23 #ASE2023 #strainecho

Strain imaging making a significant impact on the treatment of heart patients

Strain imaging has gained considerable momentum in recent years as an effective tool for getting more value out of heart evaluations. Ritu Thamman, MD, provided an in-depth look at the latest trends in strain echocardiography in an exclusive interview. 

Video of Denise Garris, ASE regulatory consultant and principal of the Korris Group, explaining how reimbursements from insurance andMedicare work to pay or cardiac ultrasound exams. #ASE #ASE360 #ASE23 #ASE2023 #healthcarereimbursment

Understanding reimbursements and coding for echocardiography

"I think everyone would agree that the current fee-for-service model is not working appropriately and there needs to be a fix," regulatory consultant Denise Garris explained in a new interview. 

Arzhang Fallahi, MD, and David Hsi, MD, discussing imaging-based aortic stenosis screening

Q&A: Cardiologists explore the potential impact of a screening program for aortic stenosis

We already screen patients for breast cancer and lung cancer on a regular basis. Why not establish screening programs for aortic stenosis?

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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