CT-based Opportunistic Screening for Adding Clinical Value: How I Do It

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Precision Medicine

Background:

• Body CT scans contain valuable cardiometabolic information.
• Manual measurements and subjective assessments hinder clinical implementation of opportunistic CT screening.
• Emerging explainable AI algorithms offer automated solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline current and emerging automated approaches for opportunistic CT screening.
• To highlight the potential of AI in leveraging cardiometabolic information from CT scans.
• To discuss the application of AI-driven CT screening in personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

• Review of current "on the fly" CT measurement approaches.
• Focus on emerging automated solutions using explainable AI.
• Development of composite models combining multiple cardiometabolic CT biomarkers.

Main Results:

• AI enables detection of unsuspected conditions (osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia, hepatic steatosis).
• Composite models can predict survival, assess biologic aging, frailty, and fracture risk.
• Automated opportunistic screening offers value, cost savings, and personalized medicine.

Conclusions:

• Explainable AI is poised to revolutionize opportunistic CT screening.
• Automated analysis of CT scans can lead to early preventive interventions.
• AI-driven opportunistic CT screening represents a new era of personalized precision medicine.