You asked and the experts answered. During the webinar Q&A, we ran out of time to answer all the questions so we reconvened the expert panel with Drs. Dilsizian, Bateman, Thompson and Bering and they answered them ALL! Check out the great insight for programs wanting to know more about cardiac PET, strategies on reimbursement and patient selection, ways to build physician awareness, timing for new agents on the horizon, the challenge of PET/MR and cardiac PET's role in retasking the cath lab and even serving as gatekeeper. Click on the questions and take a look!

Diabetic patients without coronary artery calcium (CAC) are at a relatively low risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) despite the duration of their diabetes, according to new a new study in JAMA Cardiology. The research suggests CAC scores could be a useful addition to global assessment tools for CHD risk stratification in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

A noninvasive test for fractional flow reserve derived from CT (FFRCT) is a better predictor of revascularization and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) than CT angiography (CTA), according to a study in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. FFRCT could also prevent unnecessary invasive coronary angiographies (ICAs), the study’s authors wrote.

Interventional cardiologists are exposed to chronic low-dose radiation, which can lead to adverse health conditions. At a Nov. 1 presentation at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in Denver, Wieneke Vlastra, MD, reported a 20 percent decrease in radiation exposure for operators when a lead-free disposable pad was placed on the patient.

Low-dose colchicine therapy can favorably remodel coronary plaque following acute coronary syndrome (ACS), reducing one of the major predictors of future cardiovascular events, according to a new study in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Clinicians could predict the long-term neurological outcomes of cardiac arrest survivors with something as simple as a follow-up MRI, a study published this week in Radiology states.

The 29th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium kicks off in Denver in less than two weeks. In preparation, Gregg W. Stone, MD, co-director of medical research and education at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, provided some expected highlights of this year’s session Oct. 16 during a press briefing.

What trends and strategies are shaping the future destiny of the cardiovascular service line? Take a look at the future forecast through the expert eyes of Brian Contos, an executive director with The Advisory Board Company. Is your program poised to take advantage of changing market dynamics such as outpatient care, reimbursement and payment policies? And what about implantables, MACRA, patient-focused care and interventional procedures?