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.

Heartflow FFR-CT allows noninvasive assessment of a patient'c coronary arteries without the need for a diagnostic angiogram.

VIDEO: HeartFlow FFR-CT sees increased interest after inclusion in the 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines

HeartFlow’s non-invasive cardiac computed tomography derived fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) technology enables FFR values for the entire coronary tree of a patient using just a CT scan. This can show the significance of any coronary plaque lesions and if a patient needs to be sent to the cath lab for revascularization, or if they can be treated medically.

April 28, 2022
A figure from the 2022 CAD non-invasive imaging guidelines showing a comparison of computed tomography angiography (CTA) and a SPECT-CT vs. an invasive angiogram from the cath lab showing the same blockage in a coronary artery.

New multi-society recommendations highlight role of non-invasive imaging in evaluating coronary artery disease

A new, multi-society document, "Non-Invasive Imaging in Coronary Syndromes," focuses on how multiple imaging techniques can evaluate different aspects of coronary artery disease (CAD), all without the need for invasive angiograms.

April 21, 2022
Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is an accurate, noninvasive imaging test that should be a first-line tool when treating patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), rather than cath lab angiography angiograms, according to new findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.[1]

Why cardiologists and radiologists are choosing cardiac CT over invasive angiography for suspected CAD

"A CT-first strategy allows physicians to provide relevant findings without the need for an invasive procedure," one radiologist explained. 

April 20, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY: Duly Health adopts outpatient cardiac CT as a standard of care

Duly Health and Care in suburban Chicago recently opened a new outpatient cardiac evaluation center equipped with a dedicated cardiac CT system, which will likely be a new business model that will be seen more in the coming years.

April 20, 2022
Leslee Shaw, PhD, and former presidents of both SCCT and ASNC discusses the role of CT and FFR-CT in the 2021 chest pain guidelines. Leslie Shaw.

VIDEO: Cardiac CT now recommended as a front-line chest pain assessment tool

Leslee Shaw, PhD, director of the Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and former president of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), explains the role of cardiac computed tomography (CT) in the recent 2021 chest pain guidelines.

April 19, 2022
A cardiac CT scan being performed on a Cardiograph dedicated cardiac CT scanner at a Duly Health and Care outpatient clinic. Photo by Dave Fornell

VIDEO: Office-based cardiac CT and FFR-CT offer a new business model

In a new video, Evans Pap­pas, MD, and Sujith Kalathiveetil, MD, both of Duly Health and Care in suburban Chicago, explain the shift toward office-based cardiac CT evaluations and the role of FFR-CT. 

March 22, 2022
The new imaging method VascuViz includes a quick-setting polymer mixture to fill blood vessels and make them visible in multiple imaging techniques. It enables visualization of the structure of a tissue’s vasculature, which in conjunction with detailed mathematical models or complementary images of other tissue elements can clarify the complex role of blood flow in health and disease. Watch a video example of this technology

New-look imaging technique could change the way we see blood vessels

The new method, still being tested with mouse models, could help clinicians see blood vessels with improved clarity. 

March 22, 2022
An example of a noninvasive coronary CT scan on the left and an invasive angiogram of the same patient on the right from a recent RSNA study. The CT shows more information on the calcified nature of the plaque and shows more anatomical information beyond what the angiogram provides.

CT a low-risk imaging alternative to invasive coronary angiography for suspected CAD

The new analysis focused on data from 16 different European countries. 

March 4, 2022

Around the web

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Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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