Going into 2009, proponents of coronary CT angiography (CTA) are confident that the scan’s ever-increasing acceptance will lead to it becoming the gold standard in imaging for patients with low or intermediate risk of coronary artery disease. From a business perspective, the CTA remains a driving force in the cardiac CT market.

This summer we asked readers of Diagnostic & Invasive Cardiology to submit the names and feats of the most innovative heart hospitals in the U.S. Two of those submissions are highlighted here to explain how one significantly decreased its door-to-balloon time and how the other is separating itself from competing hospitals with outstanding customer service. Cutting Door-to-Balloon Time

There is considerable interest in being able to clearly identify vulnerable plaque (VP) and research efforts are intensifying. Several invasive imaging technologies claim to detect VP, and while the link between VP identification, plaque rupture and clinical events has yet to be firmly established, progress is being made in the research.

There is skepticism among cardiologists whether flat panel detectors can help lower the X-ray dose more than using traditional image intensifiers in the cath lab. There was a story concerning this in the last issue of DAIC which said flat panel detectors are replacing image intensifiers partly because they help lower the X-ray exposure to patients.