New generation of cardiac CT scanners approved

NICE has approved four new generation cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanners for use by the NHS to help diagnose and manage patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who are difficult to image.

CAD is a condition where a narrowing of the coronary arteries can lead to angina or a heart attack. It is estimated that around 2.6 million people in the UK have CAD, which was responsible for around 91,000 deaths in 2007.

Somatom Definition Flash CT scanner, Aquilion ONE, Brilliance iCT and Discovery CT750 are all recommended as options for such patients.

With older types of CT scanners, imaging can be difficult in certain people, due to obesity and higher levels of calcium in the heart. The new scanners allow better images to be produced and within a shorter period of time.

The new generation scanners are also recommended for first line evaluation of disease progression to determine whether blood flow needs to be restored by replacing blood vessels in people with known CAD and in whom imaging with older CT scanners is difficult. Currently, invasive angiography is performed in such incidences, but NICE says that the use of the new generation scanners is preferable. 

Professor Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director, said: "From a patient perspective, a non-invasive cardiac diagnostic test is more appealing than the current alternative for people in whom imaging is difficult – invasive coronary angiography – because of the greater associated morbidity and mortality risks.

"New generation cardiac CT was found to be more cost effective than angiography because of its lower imaging costs and the lower risk of adverse outcomes and associated reduced downstream healthcare costs from dealing with complications.”

A list of diagnostic technologies guidance currently in development can be viewed here.