Computed Tomography

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has become a primary cardiovascular imaging modality in the past 20 years, and was recommended as a 1A recommendation in the 2021 chest pain assessment guidelines. CT calcium scoring has became a primary risk assessment for coronary artery disease and whether patients should be on statins. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is used to for anatomical assessment of the arteries for plaque burden and to identify areas of blockage that may cause ischemia and heart attacks. Additional use of contrast CT perfusion or fractional flow reserve CT (FFR-CT) can offer physiological information on the function of the heart. CT plays a primary role in structural heart assessments for heart valves, repair of congenital defects and left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for both pre-procedure planning and procedural guidance. Find more news on general radiology CT use.

A stack deep silicon photon counting CT detector components. The University of Wisconsin is working with GE Healthcare to develop the new PCD technology. The system and the deep silicon technology was unveiled at RSNA 2022. #RSNA22 #PCCT

VIDEO: Photon-counting CT development at the University of Wisconsin

Tim Szczykutowicz, PhD, DABR, associate professor of radiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is helping develop a new type of photon-counting CT detector that was shown as a work-in-progress by GE Healthcare at RSNA 2022.

December 13, 2022
Hisashi Tachizaki, Canon’s current senior VP and chief marketing executive. #RSNA22 He will be heading the U.S. based company as its president and CEO.

Canon to open new subsidiary, Canon Healthcare USA, in Cleveland

“The U.S. market is more and more important for our business,” the company's president and CEO said during a press conference at RSNA 2022. 

November 29, 2022
James Udelson, MD, from Tufts and an investiogator in the PRECISE trial, explains how FFR-CT combined with coronary CT outperformed the standard of care in patients with stable chest pain, or low-risk patients with suspected coronary involvement.

VIDEO: PRECISE trial shows cardiac CT with FFR-CT significantly improves patient outcomes

James Udelson, MD, an investigator involved with the PRECISE trial, explained how patient outcomes were improved by 70% from the current standard of care.

November 8, 2022
Ricardo Cury, MD, MBA, MSCCT, chairman of radiology, direct of cardiac imaging, Baptist Health South Florida and Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, discusses the new CAD-RADS 2.0 cardiac imaging reporting criteria at the 2022 SCCT meeting. Interview with Radiology Business Editor Dave Fornell.

VIDEO: What is new with CAD-RADS 2.0 cardiac imaging reporting?

Ricardo Cury, MD, chairman of radiology and director of cardiac imaging, Baptist Health South Florida and Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, discusses the new CAD-RADS 2.0 cardiac imaging reporting criteria.

October 26, 2022
Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) has evolved into a much more helpful resource than interventional cardiologists may have originally believed. In fact, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) emphasized in a new expert consensus statement that CCTA provides specialists with an effective tool in the preparation and optimization of coronary procedures. The 2021 chest pain guidelines elevated CTA to a class 1A recommendation. Harold Litt , MD, explains the use of CCTA in the ED.

VIDEO: Cardiac CT as a front-line chest pain exam in the ED

Harold Litt, MD, explains the use of cardiac CT as a primary imaging exam for chest pain at his emergency department over the past decade.

October 13, 2022
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. 

August 3, 2022
A cardiac CT scan being performed at Duly Healthcare in suburban Chicago in the spring of 2022. This is one of the first outpatient cardiology clinics in the U.S. to implement a CCTA program for screening non-acute chest pain patients and for structural heart evaluations. This applies to CCTA, CTA, Cardiac CT, and CT angiography and coronary CT angiography.

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. 

August 3, 2022
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.

July 29, 2022

Around the web

"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.

SCAI and four other major healthcare organizations signed a joint letter in support of intravascular ultrasound. 

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

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