What if there were an imaging modality that tended to be well-tolerated by patients, relatively accessible, and even able to gather useful clinical data opportunistically?
Wait a minute, there is such a thing! It's CT, and at this year's RSNA meeting, attendees will get a thorough overview of the modality's trailblazing capacities. Look for presentations about the use of CT to assess an individual's health beyond the dictates of the presenting indication -- for example, evaluating heart health, bone density, or adipose tissue as part of a lung or abdominal exam.
CT's opportunistic benefits are empowered when AI is added. Meeting attendees will encounter lively discussions on topics ranging from how the use of AI with coronary calcium lung CT exams could help identify patients at risk for diabetes and how AI can track lung nodule characteristics beyond size or volume to using automated CT body composition analysis to predict kidney cancer prognosis and using deep learning to improve CT's ability to evaluate pneumonia. Also under debate is how best to reduce the radiation dose a CT exam imparts to the patient (spoiler alert: ultralow-dose photon-counting CT seems like it could help).
To fill out the research, the RSNA will host "hot topic" educational sessions, including one that will offer insights and updates on lung cancer screening around the world and another that will explore radiology's role in climate change and how to move to "environmentally sustainable medical imaging."
Even CT experts will learn something new about the modality at the RSNA meeting. In the meantime, if you'd like more information on the presentations we're highlighting below and other abstracts, take a look at the RSNA 2025 meeting program.
Low bone density on preop lung CT linked to worse postsurgery survival
Sunday, November 30 | 9:20 a.m.-9:30 a.m. | S1-SSCH01-3 | Room E451A
In this Sunday morning session, researchers will share results from a study that found that lower bone density and higher airway ratio on pretreatment CT scans are related to poorer survival in never-smoker lung cancer patients.
Gadoteric acid shows promise as iodinated contrast alternative for PCCTA
Sunday, November 30 | 1:00 p.m.-1:10 p.m. | S4-SSVA01-1 | Room E353A
On Sunday afternoon, researchers will share results from an experimental study that suggests that gadoteric acid could be a viable alternative for photon-counting CT angiography (PCCTA) of the lower extremities in individuals with certain conditions.
Opportunistic screening predicts risk of diabetes
Sunday, November 30 | 3:20 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | S5-SSCA02-6 | Room S503
In this presentation, researchers will describe how AI-powered analysis of coronary artery calcium (CAC) on lung CT exams can enable early identification of individuals at risk for diabetes.
PROMISE trial reveals smokers' distinct coronary CTA plaque features
Monday, December 1 | 8:20 a.m.-8:30 a.m. | M1-SSCA03-3 | Room S503
Researchers have found that CT-derived plaque characterization could help assess adverse cardiovascular event risk in individuals with a smoking history.
Automated CT body composition analysis predicts mRCC prognosis
Monday, December 1 | 8:30 a.m.-8:40 a.m. | M1-SSGU03-4 | Room E353B
In this talk, researchers will share how AI analysis of sarcopenia and myosteatosis parameters from routine CT exams can stratify risk in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Fibrotic ILD in sickle cell patients suggests disease progression
Tuesday, December 2 | 8:40 a.m.-8:50 a.m. | T1-SSCH05-5 | Room S501
In this Tuesday session, researchers will share results from a study that found fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with sickle cell disease is a key indicator of future disease progression and worsening lung function.
More targeted imaging protocols need to be developed for spine CTA
Tuesday, December 2 | 10:00 a.m.-10:10 a.m. | T3-SSER01-4 | Room N228
The use of CT angiography (CTA) in cervical spine fracture patients is increasing, and this heightened use comes with significant variability of protocols, according to research to be presented Tuesday morning.
Ultralow-dose PCCT effectively evaluates emphysema
Tuesday, December 2 | 1:30 p.m.-1:40 p.m. | T6-SSCH06-1 | Room E451A
In this Tuesday afternoon session, researchers will describe how ultralow-dose photon-counting CT (PCCT) performs comparably to low-dose PCCT in evaluating emphysema.
CT flags women at high risk of heart disease via plaque quantification
Wednesday, December 3 | 3:10 p.m.-3:20 p.m. | W7-SSCA08-2 | Room E353C
Can quantifying plaque on CT help identify women at high risk of heart disease? Yes -- and especially in women with stable chest pain who might be missed by traditional heart health assessments, according to this study.
AI model identifies malignant lung nodules earlier and more accurately
Wednesday, December 3 | 3:20 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | W7-SSCH07-3 | Room S501
AI can help identify malignant lung nodules earlier -- especially if it is trained to use additional data beyond nodule size and growth, researchers have found.
Can AI predict major adverse cardiac events from chest CT studies?
Thursday, December 4 | 8:40 a.m.-8:50 a.m. | R1-SSCA09-5 | Room E353C
An AI algorithm shows potential for utilizing routine chest CT exams to opportunistically predict patient risk of having a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), according to this scientific presentation.
Can adding deep learning to CT improve pneumonia assessment?
Thursday, December 4 | 1:30 p.m.-1:40 p.m. | R6-SSCH10-1 | Room E451A
In this Thursday afternoon session, researchers will share findings from a study that suggests that deep-learning image reconstruction with ultralow-dose chest CT shows promise as a scanning option for pneumonia patients.
Calcium volume a key driver of major adverse cardiac event prediction
Thursday, December 4 | 1:50 p.m.-2:00 p.m. | R6-SSCA11-3 | Room E353C
Calcium volume is the crucial factor in the prediction of major adverse cardiac event risk among patients not on lipid-lowering medication, researchers have reported.
