Which imaging modality is better for evaluating heart patients, PET or SPECT? After years of discussions and debates, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology is now ready to point to PET as the No. 1 choice. “There are no clinical scenarios or patient subgroups where cardiac PET with myocardial blood flow should be excluded," the group wrote.

Total plaque volume and total plaque burden can help find patients who may be closer to suffering a heart attack than they realize.

Medtronic has held a minority investment in CathWorks for several years, and the two organizations entered into a co-promotion agreement in 2022. Once finalized, the move will increase Medtronic's presence in the cath lab. 

Advanced imaging may be able to help certain heart patients avoid the risks and discomfort associated with right heart catheterizations.

“Coronary calcium revealed long ago that atherosclerosis begins well before symptoms. AI-CVD extends that insight by enabling systematic identification of patients who are unaware of their cardiovascular risk using CT scans that already exist,” said Arthur Agatston, MD.

The two vendors involved say supplies of PYP and HDP could be disrupted for months.

Researchers see potential for this technology to make cardiac screening much easier for physicians who are not trained cardiologists.

Former NBA player Muggsy Bogues, who also acted in the 1996 film Space Jam, is one of many athletes now participating in the registry. "I’ve lost too many friends to cardiovascular disease," he said.