TY - JOUR
T1 - Current and future applications of photon-counting computed tomography in cardiovascular medicine
AU - Cademartiri, Filippo
AU - Maffei, Erica
AU - Cau, Riccardo
AU - Positano, Vincenzo
AU - De Gori, Carmelo
AU - Celi, Simona
AU - Saba, Luca
AU - Bossone, Eduardo
AU - Meloni, Antonella
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
PY - 2025/12/1
Y1 - 2025/12/1
N2 - Photon-counting CT (PCCT) represents a transformative advancement in cardiac imaging, addressing key limitations of conventional CT. This review synthesises current evidence to demonstrate how PCCT’s superior spatial resolution, enhanced tissue characterisation and multienergy capabilities broaden the diagnostic potential of cardiac CT. Applications include the precise detection and quantification of coronary artery calcifications, evaluation of coronary plaque burden and composition, improved assessment of coronary stents, and comprehensive myocardial tissue characterisation and perfusion analysis. By offering high-quality spectral information and detailed tissue characterisation, PCCT provides a non-invasive alternative for assessing coronary artery disease and myocardial pathology, reducing the need for invasive coronary angiography and cardiac MRI. Despite ongoing challenges in technology and clinical implementation, PCCT has the potential to revolutionise cardiovascular diagnostics, optimise diagnostic workflows and enhance patient care through more accurate, streamlined and comprehensive assessments.
AB - Photon-counting CT (PCCT) represents a transformative advancement in cardiac imaging, addressing key limitations of conventional CT. This review synthesises current evidence to demonstrate how PCCT’s superior spatial resolution, enhanced tissue characterisation and multienergy capabilities broaden the diagnostic potential of cardiac CT. Applications include the precise detection and quantification of coronary artery calcifications, evaluation of coronary plaque burden and composition, improved assessment of coronary stents, and comprehensive myocardial tissue characterisation and perfusion analysis. By offering high-quality spectral information and detailed tissue characterisation, PCCT provides a non-invasive alternative for assessing coronary artery disease and myocardial pathology, reducing the need for invasive coronary angiography and cardiac MRI. Despite ongoing challenges in technology and clinical implementation, PCCT has the potential to revolutionise cardiovascular diagnostics, optimise diagnostic workflows and enhance patient care through more accurate, streamlined and comprehensive assessments.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005432471
U2 - 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-325790
DO - 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-325790
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40368454
AN - SCOPUS:105005432471
SN - 1355-6037
VL - 111
SP - 1109
EP - 1118
JO - Heart
JF - Heart
IS - 23
ER -