CT screening is an optimal imaging technique for cardiometabolic evaluation.
In a groundbreaking presentation at the International Society for Computed Tomography (ISCT) meeting in Brussels, radiologist Perry Pickhardt of the University of Wisconsin, highlighted the potential of CT scans for assessing a variety of cardio-metabolic diseases. The interest in using CT scans for cardiometabolic conditions is on the rise, as Pickhardt emphasised in his talk.
Pickhardt focused on the use of CT scans to evaluate biological age, a concept that has gained popularity in recent years. Biological age, he explained, accounts for the cumulative physiologic effects of lifestyle habits, genetic predisposition, and superimposed diseases, providing a more accurate reflection of a person's state of health than their chronological age.
In his presentation, Pickhardt argued that there has been "zero mention of imaging biomarkers" in the effort to determine biological age. CT scans, he noted, can evaluate various factors such as visceral and subcutaneous fat, muscle density, calcium levels, organ volumes, and bone marrow density, offering robust objective data for various clinical scenarios.
Tracking biomarkers on CT scans, Pickhardt explained, can help clinicians better predict patient outcomes. In fact, when biomarker data are combined, the area under the curve (AUC) is 0.79, indicating a significant predictive power. CT scans, he further argued, perform better than clinical biomarkers such as cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C, and blood pressure in providing information.
One of the lesser-known applications of CT scans, according to Pickhardt, is CT colonography, which he referred to as a "best kept secret in medicine." The use of CT scans for cardiometabolic screening, he suggested, could revolutionise healthcare decisions, making them more informed and personalised.
However, Pickhardt also stressed that chronological age should not be considered an infallible measure in healthcare decisions. The focus, he argued, should be on biological age, which provides a more accurate reflection of a person's health status.
In conclusion, the potential of CT scans for cardiometabolic screening is an exciting development in the field of healthcare. As the understanding of biological age continues to grow, the use of CT scans for assessing a person's health could become a standard practice in the near future.
