Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT)

The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) focuses on the advancement and expansion of cardiac CT. The society serves a membership split about evenly between radiologists and cardiologists. SCCT hosts educational events, advocates for CCTA for reimbursement and helps set guidelines for cardiac imaging. The news, videos and content on this page are created by our Innovate Healthcare editorial team and focus on the clinical, operational and financial aspects of cardiac CT.

Example of a patient's coronary tree extracted from a cardiac CT scan. CT allows very detailed anatomical imaging and now physiological and plaque information that can be useful in pre-planning interventional procedures. Imaging from the GE Revolution Apex system at SCCT 2022.

VIDEO: CT imaging to plan coronary interventions — Interview with Jonathon Leipsic, MD

Jonathon Leipsic, MD, chairman of the Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, explains how noninvasive computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be used to aid in planning interventional cardiology procedures for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and chronic total occlusions (CTO). 

AI-generated coronary tree from a patient's CT scan showing a color code of areas of interest for plaque burden from the Cleerly software shown at SCCT 2022.

VIDEO: Why plaque composition CT imaging may be the future of cardiology

Former European Society of Cardiology president Prof. Jeroen Bax explains the difficulty in quantifying these plaques manually and how artificial intelligence may change this to allow rapid, detailed quantitative analysis. 

Left, coronary CT angiography of a vessel showing plaque heavy calcium burden. Right, image showing color code of various types of plaque morphology showing the complexity of these lesions. The right image was processed using the FDA cleared, AI-enabled plaque assessment from Elucid.

Cardiac CT soft plaque assessment may offer paradigm shift for coronary disease screening

New artificial intelligence software that can evaluate coronary CT scans to automatically assess soft plaques were by far the biggest technology advance discussed at the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) 2022 meeting. 

Eric Williamson, MD, MSCCT, the 2021-2022 president of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and professor of radiology at Mayo Clinic, shares his key takeaways from the SCCT 2022 conference. #SCCT #SCCT2022 #yesCCT

VIDEO: Top 6 takeaways from the Society of Cardiovascular CT 2022 meeting

Eric Williamson, MD, MSCCT, the 2021-2022 president of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and professor of radiology at Mayo Clinic, shared his key takeaways from the SCCT 2022 conference. 

Examples of new plaque reporting in the CAD-RADS 2.0 document. Left, an example from CAD-RADS 2 / P2 plaque burden with mild coronary stenosis (25-49%). Right, example of a CAD-RADS 5/ P3, with a focal, non-calcified occlusion of the proximal RCA (arrow) and severe amount of plaque (P3). #CADRADS #YesCCT #CTA #CCTA

New CAD-RADS 2.0 reporting for coronary CTA offers patient management recommendations

The document includes updated classification to established a framework for stenosis, plaque burden and plaque modifiers, including assessment of CT-FFR or myocardial CT perfusion.

There have been a big increase in interest in cardiac CT following the publication of the 2021 ACC Chest Pain Evaluation Guidelines, which raised CT angiography (CTA) to a 1A level of evidence. This has prompted many centers to consider creating CTA programs.

VIDEO: Cardiac CT training requirements for radiologists and technologists

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, explains what specialized training is needed to perform coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as interest rapidly rises in this field. 

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, and a board member of the Society of cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) explains the rapidly expanding interest in cardiac computed tomography (CT) under the new chest pain evaluation guidelines.

VIDEO: The new role of cardiac CT in chest pain evaluation

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, and a board member of the Society of cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), explains the rapidly expanding interest in cardiac computed tomography (CT) under the new chest pain evaluation guidelines.

An example of spectral cardiac CT being used to show iodine density in the myocardium to show perfusion deficits. Shown by Philips healthcare at ACC 2022.

VIDEO: Mitigating the contrast media shortage impact on CT imaging

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on computed tomography (CT) and cardiac imaging.
 

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.