Several key trends at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography were outlined by society President Ed Nicol, MD, including AI, reimbursement issue, business management discussions, and a growing interest in cardiac CT leading to record attendance this year.

AI to help interpret cardiac CT was shown to reduce exam read times to improve workflow efficiency, and improve patient diagnostics with additional information on soft plaques. Data was presented in three HeartFlow AI technology studies at SCCT 2023.

The group collaborated with two other medical societies, SCAI and CHSS, on the expert consensus document. 

Coronary CT angiography is commonly used to assess patients at low or intermediate risk of CAD but is less effective in high-risk patients with an increased presence of coronary calcifications and stents due to the “blooming” effect they have on imaging.

The new analysis, published in JAMA, suggests that CT results can help identify medium- and high-risk patients who may need to be considered for statin therapy or other preventive treatments.

Change is on the horizon for cath labs all over the world as more and more interventional cardiologists are starting to use coronary CT angiography to plan and guide PCI procedures. Patients, physicians, catheterization labs and healthcare systems all stand to gain from this growing trend.

Cardiology is linked to the second largest group of FDA-cleared clinical AI algorithms, and the number is still growing. 

Marcelo DiCarli, MD, and Rob Beanlands, MD, discussed the long-term value of investing in the development and implementation of AI technologies.