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.

New ASE president outlines key initiatives in cardiac ultrasound
American Society of Echocardiography President David H. Wiener, MD, said one of his biggest goals is to help the group thrive in the face of ongoing workforce challenges. He also hopes to get new members involved.
ASNC lobbies Congress to curb prior authorization, oppose AUC mandates and embrace payment reform
Suman Tandon, MD, an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology board member, explains the group's call on Congress to update a number of healthcare policies.
Update to Johnson & Johnson PFA platform gains FDA approval
The Varipulse PFA platform originally gained FDA approval in 2024. According to Johnson & Johnson MedTech, this update was put in place to help the technology provide better patient outcomes going forward.
AI-enhanced echocardiography improves early detection of cardiac amyloidosis
The first FDA-cleared AI model of its kind was found to be an accurate screening tool for cardiac amyloidosis.
AI-enabled coronary plaque evaluations included in new RBM guidelines
The use of advanced AI software to assess CCTA images continues to gain more momentum.

A study published this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC): Cardiovascular Imaging shows artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can more rapidly and objectively determine calcium scores in computed tomographic (CT) and positron emission tomographic (PET) images than physicians.[1] The AI also performed well when the images were obtained from very-low-radiation CT attenuation scans. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2022.06.006

Artificial intelligence can objectively determine cardiac calcium scores faster than doctors

A new study shows artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can more rapidly and objectively determine calcium scores in CT and PET/CT images than physicians.

he U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted market clearance ion September 2022 for the Edwards Lifesciences Corp. Pascal Precision transcatheter valve repair system for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). It is indicated for the treatment of patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

FDA clears Edwards Pascal device for transcatheter mitral valve repair

This is the second FDA-cleared transcatheter repair device for the mitral valve. Data from pivotal trial comparing Pascal vs. MitraClip will be presented at TCT 2022.

Examples of structural heart transcatheter valve replacement procedure planning CT scans and post procedure followup for TMVR and TAVR.

VIDEO: CT imaging for TAVR and TMVR structural heart interventions

Joao Cavalcante, MD, director, cardiac MRI and structural CT labs, Minneapolis Heart Institute, discusses the use of cardiac CT imaging to plan and guide structural heart procedures.

Cardiologist compensation hits $622K, up 32% from 10 years ago

According to a new analysis from MedAxiom, an American College of Cardiology company, cardiologist compensation has nearly returned to where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. The detailed report also examined new patient visits, cardiac imaging utilization and much more.

A structural heart Presentation during the TVT 2022 conference. #TCT #TCT22 #TCT2022

TCT 2022 late-breaking clinical presentations announced

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced the 32 late-breaking studies being presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2022 annual meeting at in Boston, Sept. 16-19.

1 in 20 hospitalized COVID-19 patients develop new-onset AFib

Researchers examined data from nearly 31,000 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, sharing their findings in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.

VIDEO: Gender differences in women with cardiovascular disease and implications for imagers

Erin D. Michos, MD, co-editor in chief of the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, discusses gender differences in heart disease presentations.

HFpEF patients with MR may face a higher mortality risk—but not if they have AFib

There is an established connection between MR and HFrEF, but we know much less about the link between MR and HFpEF.

Cardiac Imaging

New ASE president outlines key initiatives in cardiac ultrasound

ASNC lobbies Congress to curb prior authorization, oppose AUC mandates and embrace payment reform

Update to Johnson & Johnson PFA platform gains FDA approval

AI-enhanced echocardiography improves early detection of cardiac amyloidosis

AI-enabled coronary plaque evaluations included in new RBM guidelines