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.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

VIDEO: How to build a collaborative heart team in structural heart

Brijeshwar Maini, MD, structural heart cardiologist, national and Florida medical director of cardiology, Tenant Health, explains what hospitals need to build a structural heart program and develop a heart-team care collaboration approach.

This latest shortage involves dobutamine, an injectable medication often prescribed for advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. It is also a central component of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), a test used to evaluate patients with severe aortic stenosis.

A new supply issue hits cardiology: 5 recommendations for cardiologists during the dobutamine shortage

The shortage could lead to significant issues for cardiologists. The American College of Cardiology provided some words of wisdom on the ongoing issue.  

Fat attenuation index (FAI) CT imaging of coronary artery fat can show inflammation and can help pin-point vulnerable plaques, or show the reversal of inflammation due to drug therapies. The technology is being developed by the vendor Caristo, which has European CE mark and the company is seeking FDA clearance. #SCCT #SCCT2022

VIDEO: New Technologies in Cardiac CT Imaging

Ron Blankstein, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital, explains recent advances in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) technology. 

Cardiac CT now in the spotlight thanks to chest pain guidelines

With the elevation of cardiac CT to a 1A indication in the 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines, there has been a large amount of interest in starting coronary artery CT angiography (CCTA) programs. 

Heartbeat Health Caption Health AI echocardiogram

Caption Health, Heartbeat Health partner to deliver AI-powered echocardiograms

Steve Cashman, Caption Health’s CEO, described the partnership as “an ideal coupling of patient-centric services.”

VIDEO: 3 challenges for Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography members in 2023

Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) President Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, detailed three challenges he is making to SCCT members in the coming year. 

How to get paid, reimbursed, for cardiac CT, CTA CCTA. #SCCT #SCCT2022

VIDEO: How imagers get reimbursed for coronary CTA

Ahmad M. Slim, MD, associate professor of medicine with the University of Washington and regional chief medical officer with the Pulse Heart Institute, explained how imagers get paid for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exams.

Ron Blankstein, MD, MSCCT, associate director, cardiovascular imaging program, director, cardiac computed tomography, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, was a co-author on the ACC 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines,[1] which now lists coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA or CTA) as a 1A level recommendation for front line imaging. He gave an overview of the guidelines during the 2022 Society of Cardiovascular CT (SCCT) meeting in July. #SCCT2022

VIDEO: The role of cardiac CT in the 2021 chest pain guidelines

Ron Blankstein, MD, associate director of the cardiovascular imaging program and director of the cardiac computed tomography program for Brigham and Women's Hospital, was a co-author on the ACC 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines, which now lists coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA or CTA) as a 1A level recommendation for frontline imaging.