Plaque imaging, AI and structural heart disease in the spotlight at SCCT 2026 meeting
As cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) continues to expand, leaders of the 2026 annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) say attendees can expect a program focused on some of the most transformative trends in cardiac imaging, including advanced plaque analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), expansion in structural heart interventions, and next-generation CT technologies.
"This is our 21st annual scientific meeting, and SCCT is entering its third decade," says Ronen Rubinshtein, MD, MSCCT, president-elect of SCCT and chairman of the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. The conference will take place July 9-12 at the Gaylord Pacific Resort in San Diego and will feature about 470 presentations across 15 educational tracks and four concurrent session rooms.
Rubinshtein says the breadth of the program reflects the growing role of cardiac CT throughout cardiovascular care.
Plaque imaging takes center stage
Among the hottest topics at this year's meeting is coronary plaque imaging, an area many experts believe is driving a shift toward earlier detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The technology can quantify the types of soft plaques and creates a more accurate way to assess heart attacks risk.
"We now have the ability to look at coronary atherosclerosis and determine what can be done with that information," Rubinshtein explains. "Identifying high-risk plaques is definitely a hot topic in cardiology."
Researchers and clinicians increasingly are using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to evaluate plaque characteristics associated with future cardiovascular events. The goal is to identify vulnerable plaques before they rupture and cause a myocardial infarction.
Rubinshtein says the technology is helping move cardiology beyond secondary prevention—treating patients after a heart attack, and toward primary prevention strategies aimed at preventing events before they occur.
"We are moving closer into a biology based understanding of disease and not just an imaging perspective," he explains. "We're trying to identify which plaques are riskier and which patients may benefit from earlier intervention."
SCCT's prevention track will include multiple sessions exploring plaque biology, imaging biomarkers and emerging evidence surrounding high-risk plaque features.
AI continues to transform cardiac imaging
AI has quickly risen to became a key element in the CCTA analysis and technologies to improve workflows.
"AI is extremely dominant in imaging in general, but especially in cardiac imaging," Rubinshtein says.
Applications now extend across virtually every aspect of cardiac CT, from image acquisition and reconstruction to automated plaque quantification, workflow optimization and advanced physiologic assessments. Rubinshtein notes that AI is enabling increasingly sophisticated analyses while simultaneously helping improve efficiency and image quality.
Innovation sessions throughout the conference will highlight emerging AI applications and other novel technologies that could reshape cardiovascular imaging practice in the coming years.
CT-FFR and functional assessment gain momentum
The conference also will focus on physiology-based assessments of coronary disease, particularly CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR). This was the first clinical AI to be included in any cardiology guidelines.
Rather than evaluating only the anatomical appearance of coronary stenoses, CT-FFR enables clinicians to estimate the physiologic impact of lesions on blood flow. This technology is helping eliminate the need for catheter-based diagnostic angiograms or catheter-based FFR pressure wire assessments.
Rubinshtein describes CT-FFR as one of the technologies helping move cardiac CT beyond diagnosis and toward more comprehensive patient management. The FDA-approved technology continues to gain traction as evidence accumulates supporting its clinical utility.
Photon-counting CT and new technology draw growing interest
Another technology expected to generate significant discussion is photon-counting CT. The next-generation detector technology offers substantially greater efficiency compared with conventional CT detector systems and may ultimately revolutionize X-ray-based imaging with much greater image resolution and the built in ability to perform spectral image analysis
The technology promises improved spatial resolution, enhanced tissue characterization and potentially lower radiation doses, making it one of the most anticipated hardware advancements in medical imaging, he notes.
The meeting also will address broader questions surrounding new technology adoption, including how healthcare systems should balance performance gains against cost considerations.
"We have a dedicated track focused on the business aspect of CT," Rubinshtein says. "The main issue is value-based medicine. You want to invest in something if it truly makes a difference in your patients' lives."
Structural heart imaging expands beyond TAVR
As structural heart interventions continue to grow rapidly, SCCT is expanding its focus beyond coronary artery disease. While transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains a major area of interest, conference sessions also will examine imaging for interventions involving the mitral, tricuspid and pulmonary valves. Part of the pre-conference hands-on-sessions take a deep dive into how to use software for post-processing of these pre-procedural CT exams.
Rubinshtein points to the growing partnership between cardiac imagers and interventional cardiologists, which has elevated CT's key role in procedural planning, device sizing and post-procedural assessment.
Education for the entire cardiac CT team
A key point Rubinshtein emphasizes is that the conference is designed not only for cardiologists and radiologists, but also for technologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in cardiac CT programs.
"Our work is meaningless without our paramedical colleagues," he says. "You are only as good as your radiology technologists. Your images are only as good as your cardiac CT team."
Dedicated educational tracks will address topics relevant to imaging technologists and nursing staff, alongside discussions focused on healthcare disparities, access to care and gender-specific considerations in cardiovascular imaging.
The meeting also will feature a robust congenital heart disease program, reflecting SCCT's commitment to pediatric imaging and the care of patients with congenital cardiac conditions.
FDA perspective to open the meeting
The conference keynote address will be delivered by Robert Califf, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, providing attendees with perspectives on healthcare innovation, regulation and the future of medical technology.
Ultimately, Rubinshtein says the value of the meeting lies not only in learning about the latest scientific advances, but also in fostering collaboration among imaging specialists worldwide.
"The team spirit of SCCT is collaboration," he says. "Even if you come to the conference and learn just two or three things that you can take home and implement in your practice, it was worth the trip. And beyond that, you may find new colleagues, new collaborations and new opportunities for research in the future."
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]