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.

AI-based coronary plaque evaluations highlight elevated heart risks in women
“This is the perfect technique to identify high-risk patients who would benefit from intensive therapies,” imaging specialist Gudrun Feuchtner, MD, told Cardiovascular Business.
FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns
A catheter sheath detached during use and was left in the patient’s body. It was successfully removed, but the FDA said it is now evaluating the potential risk to others going forward. There is no official recall at this time.
Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence
The 55-year-old patient woke up experiencing chest pain one morning and an ambulance was called. He was dead just a few hours later. His family's lawsuit argued that delays in care, communication errors and other issues were directly responsible for his death.
Cardiology, radiology professionals unite to explore the challenges of diagnosing CAD in women
Coronary artery disease is both underdiagnosed and undertreated in women, and they often receive less guideline-recommended care than men. Why do these disparities persist? And what can today’s healthcare providers do to bring about change?
FDA clears catheter-based 4D visualization platform for complex heart procedures
The new technology from LUMA Vision allows operators to deliver 2D and 4D ultrasound images in real time. The advanced catheter was built with maneuverability and increased visibility in mind.

Examples of new cardiac CT technologies at the 2022 SCCT meeting. Top left clockwise, realistic 3D rendering inside the heart, the GE Revolution Apex scanner, Cleerly's AI automated soft plaque assessment, and CT strain imaging from Medis. #SCCT #SCCT2022 #YesCCT #CTA #CCTA, new computed tomography technology

PHOTO GALLERY: Cardiac CT advances at SCCT 2022

View a variety of images from the 2022 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) meeting in Las Vegas.

Example of a patient's coronary tree extracted from a cardiac CT scan. CT allows very detailed anatomical imaging and now physiological and plaque information that can be useful in pre-planning interventional procedures. Imaging from the GE Revolution Apex system at SCCT 2022.

VIDEO: CT imaging to plan coronary interventions — Interview with Jonathon Leipsic, MD

Jonathon Leipsic, MD, chairman of the Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, explains how noninvasive computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be used to aid in planning interventional cardiology procedures for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Ancora Heart AccuCinch Ventricular Restoration System heart failure FDA

Regulatory Roundup: FDA clears AI-powered Apple Watch competitor, grants breakthrough designation to new heart failure device

Ancora Heart received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for its AccuCinch Ventricular Restoration System, a new minimally invasive transcatheter device designed for the treatment of heart failure.

CMR of a patient showing evidence of myocardial hypertrophy

Cardiac MRI findings linked with worse outcomes in hypertension patients

Nonischemic LGE was revealed to be independently associated with worse outcomes in hypertension patients.

Performing valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement (ViV TMVR) with conscious sedation (CS) or monitored anesthesia care (MAC) instead of general anesthesia (GA) is safe and effective, according to new research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Using a TAVR-like minimalist approach for valve-in-valve TMVR is safe and effective, Cleveland Clinic study confirms

During valve-in-valve TMVR, patients are treated with conscious sedation or monitored anesthesia care instead of general anesthesia. This new analysis confirms that the change does not impact patient outcomes, but it was linked to a shorter length of stay.

Left, coronary CT angiography of a vessel showing plaque heavy calcium burden. Right, image showing color code of various types of plaque morphology showing the complexity of these lesions. The right image was processed using the FDA cleared, AI-enabled plaque assessment from Elucid.

Cardiac CT soft plaque assessment may offer paradigm shift for coronary disease screening

New artificial intelligence software that can evaluate coronary CT scans to automatically assess soft plaques were by far the biggest technology advance discussed at the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) 2022 meeting.

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR CT JAMA Cardiology OAC

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR: What we know, and still need to learn, about a challenging complication

Treating subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR has been an ongoing challenge for structural heart clinicians, but recent research has gone a long way toward improving our understanding of this important topic.

New PET imager cleared for U.S. sales

A Canadian manufacturer of positron emission tomography equipment has received FDA’s OK to market a small-footprint scanner that images targeted organs bearing radiotracers at close range.

Cardiac Imaging

AI-based coronary plaque evaluations highlight elevated heart risks in women

FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns

Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence

Cardiology, radiology professionals unite to explore the challenges of diagnosing CAD in women

FDA clears catheter-based 4D visualization platform for complex heart procedures