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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images
Published on: September 22, 2023
Cardiac CT in the Era of Precision Cardiology: From Calcium Scoring to Comprehensive Risk Profiling.
Gianluigi Napoli1, Donatella Tansella2, Maria Teresa Savo3
1Cardiology Unit, Villa Verde Clinic, 74121 Taranto, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) offers a comprehensive, non-invasive approach to cardiovascular health. Advanced CT techniques integrate anatomy, function, and inflammation for personalized patient strategies in precision cardiology.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Precision Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a key tool in precision cardiology.
- It enables non-invasive evaluation of coronary anatomy, plaque, vascular function, and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the evolution of cardiac CT into an integrated diagnostic framework.
- To demonstrate how CT combines structural, functional, and biological data for holistic coronary health assessment.
Main Methods:
- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring for atherosclerotic burden.
- Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for plaque characterization.
- CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) and stress perfusion CT (CTP) for physiological assessment.
- CT-derived biomarkers like perivascular fat attenuation index (pFAI) for inflammation imaging.
Main Results:
- CAC quantification refines risk estimation in intermediate-risk individuals.
- CCTA accurately identifies obstructive and non-obstructive plaques.
- FFR-CT and CTP improve identification of flow-limiting stenoses.
- pFAI reveals vascular inflammation and residual risk.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac CT integrates multiple data layers for a holistic view of coronary health.
- Advances in AI and detector technology are driving CT towards cardiovascular phenotyping.
- CT enables a shift towards precision-guided, patient-specific strategies in clinical decision-making.
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