Dear readers,
The updated guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) have revolutionised the diagnostic approach to the chronic coronary syndrome. This recently recognised wide spectrum of pathologies which, among others, includes coronary artery disease, is the main cause of heart failure leading to a high mortality rate. In order to reduce the burden of this condition, ESC has established to replace the electrocardiogram with cardiac CT as the first diagnostic modality and cardiac CT is now recommended as the initial non-invasive functional diagnostic method in all symptomatic patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease and cardiac-related chest pain.
The remarkable impact and consequences of this radical change are specifically illustrated by Prof. Loewe in the podcast presented in this Newsletter, where two related papers are also included: the state-of-the-art of cardiac imaging described by representatives of The European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology and the European Society of Radiology (ESR) in the light of the new ESC guidelines, and the results of a national survey on the use of cardiac CT in daily practice according to the updated ESC recommendations, also including the unsolved needs in hospital management.
Finally, the clinical case included below provides a clear demonstration of the advantages of the use of cardiac CT as the first assessment tool in a patient with intermittent atypical chest pain.
As usual, suggestions for topics to be covered in future issues of this newsletter are welcome: please send your proposals to us at editorial@mdct.net.
From the MDCT.net team
