Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT)

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) focuses on the advancement and expansion of cardiac CT. The society serves a membership split about evenly between radiologists and cardiologists. SCCT hosts educational events, advocates for CCTA for reimbursement and helps set guidelines for cardiac imaging. The news, videos and content on this page are created by our Innovate Healthcare editorial team and focus on the clinical, operational and financial aspects of cardiac CT.

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SCCT President Ed Nicol, MD, explains key trends trends in cardiac CT imaging at the 2023 meeting. #SCCT #SCCT23 #SCCT2023

Key trends and takeaways in cardiac CT at SCCT 2023

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.

HeartFlow's RoadMap technology where AI reads the image in a first pass to highlight areas of interest with for the radiologist or cardiologist on coronary CT scan. The technology was shown to reduce reading time by 25%.

Three studies show value of AI to speed cardiac CT reads and soft plaque evaluation 

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.

Image of a bioprosthetic valve within the RVOT from the SCCT's congenital heart disease guidelines

SCCT shares new recommendations on use of CT imaging to guide congenital heart disease treatment

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

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Cardiology societies say affirmative action ruling will do long-term damage to patient care

The American College of Cardiology, Association of Black Cardiologists and several other U.S. societies released a new joint statement on the ruling.

Cardiologist Martha Gulati, MD, who specializes in both preventive cardiology and cardiovascular disease in women, has been named the Anita Dann Friedman Endowed Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine and Research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

SCCT honors cardiologist Martha Gulati for her research on heart disease among women

Gulati, known for her work in the field of preventive cardiology, is also being recognized for her role in the development of the 2021 chest pain guidelines. 

Ed Nicol, MD, consultant cardiologist and honorary senior clinical lecturer with Kings College London and president-elect of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), explained artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac CT is here to stay and its use is expanding. He noted that one AI-based algorithm is already included in recent cardiology guidelines and more will likely follow. #SCCT

Cardiac imagers need to understand AI as it enters clinical use and ACC guidelines

Most FDA-cleared AI algorithms are related to radiology and cardiology, meaning radiologists and cardiologists need to make an effort to learn how these technologies work.

A CT coronary calcium scoring exam at Northwestern Medicine's Central DuPage Hospital in the Chicago Suburbs. Dave Fornell

The remaining gaps in evidence for cardiac CT

While the ACC/AHA 2021 Chest Pain Assessment Guidelines included cardiac CT angiography as a top level recommendation, gaps in evidence still need to be filled.

An example of an FDA cleared radiology AI algorithm to automatically take a cardiac CT scan and identify, contour and quantify soft plaque in the coronary arteries. The Cleerly software then generates an automated report with images, measurements and a risk assessment for the patient. This type of quantification is too time consuming and complex for human readers to bother with, but AI assisted reports like this may become a new normal over the next decade. Example from Cleerly Imaging at SCCT 2022.

Legal considerations for artificial intelligence in radiology and cardiology

There are now more than 520 FDA-cleared AI algorithms and the majority are for radiology and cardiology, raising the question of who is liable if the AI gets something wrong.

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