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.

AI-enabled coronary plaque quantification outperforms traditional risk scores

Researchers used AI-enabled software developed by Cleerly to evaluate the CCTA results of more than 6,000 patients. The software was consistently effective, identifying patients who may face an increased risk of poor outcomes. 

Coronary calcium may predict a patient's risk of dying from noncardiac conditions

Calcium in the coronary arteries is a known cardiac risk factor. However, new data suggest it may actually tell us more about a person's overall health than researchers previously believed. 

HeartFlow Plaque Analysis Example

Confirmed: AI software from Heartflow flags high-risk coronary plaques for cardiologists

Researchers tracked data from nearly 8,000 patients evaluated with Heartflow's FDA-cleared Plaque Analysis software. Overall, the technology's Plaque Staging feature was found to provide significant value during the diagnosis and management of these patients.

Carlos Collet, MD, PhD, director, cardiovascular imaging, physiology and translational therapeutics, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, explains how noninvasive coronary CT angiography (CCTA) assessments will play a major role to eliminate invasive diagnostic angiography and to pre-plan percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.

CCTA will play an essential role in the cath labs of the future

Noninvasive coronary CT angiography is growing more and more important as time goes on, helping cardiologists make critical treatment decisions. Carlos Collet, MD, PhD, discussed the technique's potential to be a real game-changer for patient care in a new interview. 

cvi42 | Plaque from Circle Cardiovascular Imaging

FDA clears new AI-enabled coronary plaque analysis software

Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, a Canadian medtech company, received the key approval for its cvi42 | Plaque platform.

Heartflow PCI Navigator Cardiology

New Heartflow tech delivers AI-powered PCI planning for cardiologists

PCI Navigator from Heartflow was designed to help cardiologists plan ahead for percutaneous coronary interventions before they even step foot into the cath lab. It assesses a patient’s CCTA results and creates a state-of-the-art 3D model.

robot reviewing heart data

FDA clears new AI model for MAC detection in routine imaging results

The advanced algorithm was designed to detect and evaluate mitral annular calcification on routine, non-gated CT scans. It is now available as part of Carebricks, a generative AI platform from Bunkerhill Health. 

Jaime Warren, EdD, MBA, BHS, CNMT, NCT, FACC, vice president, care transformation, MedAxiom, an ACC company, explains some of the things centers should be thinking about when creating or expanding cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) programs.

How to take your CCTA program to the next level

Changing society guidelines and insurance policies have resulted in more interest in CCTA. To help your CCTA program expand, one expert told Cardiovascular Business, it is important to remember the close relationship between cardiology and radiology.