Summary: Researchers at NYU Langone Health are using AI to repurpose existing CT scans for opportunistic screening, enabling early detection of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions to improve preventive healthcare.

Key Takeaways

  • AI-powered CT scans enable early detection of cardiovascular disease: Researchers used AI to analyze abdominal CT scans, identifying aortic calcium buildup as a key predictor of major cardiovascular events, improving early diagnosis without dedicated coronary imaging.
  • Opportunistic screening expands diagnostic potential: The study highlights how medical imaging, initially intended for other purposes, can be repurposed to detect cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions, broadening preventive healthcare applications.
  • Early intervention opportunities for high-risk patients: Findings revealed 29% of patients thought to be at low risk showed early signs of cardiovascular disease, showcasing the importance of opportunistic screening in reaching underserved populations.

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Researchers at NYU Langone Health have developed an innovative approach to diagnosing cardiovascular disease using artificial intelligence (AI) and existing CT scans, as unveiled at the annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting.

CT scans, traditionally used to detect tumors, bleeding, or infections, are now being repurposed to identify calcium buildup in arteries, a critical marker of worsening cardiovascular disease. This approach is part of a growing trend in “opportunistic screening,” where radiologists extract additional diagnostic value from medical images originally intended for other purposes.

“Instead of relying on dedicated CT scans of coronary arteries, which are rare and not always covered by insurance, we seek to use AI to help screen abdominal CT scans that are done for many reasons to opportunistically catch heart disease more often and earlier,” says Miriam Bredella, MD, MBA, senior investigator of the study and the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Professor of Radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The study analyzed 3,662 CT scans of the abdomen performed between 2013 and 2023, examining a section of the aorta. Researchers employed AI to measure aortic calcium levels, calculate a standard score for calcification, and predict the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and vessel blockages.

Findings revealed that patients with aortic calcification were 2.2 times more likely to experience a significant cardiovascular event within three years. Importantly, early indications of arterial calcium buildup were detected in 29% of patients previously thought to be clear of cardiovascular disease risk.

Expanding Opportunistic Screening Beyond Heart Disease

This breakthrough builds on earlier research, also led by Bredella, showcasing the potential of opportunistic screening in diagnosing osteoporosis. In a study published in Bone in September, her team used AI to analyze CT scans performed for lung cancer screening, identifying severe signs of bone loss in 38% to 72% of patients across racial and income groups.

“Our research demonstrates that opportunistic screening could help with diagnosing and treating osteoporosis in vulnerable groups who are at greater risk of the disease, in particular, the elderly and those who smoke,” says Bredella. “This work establishes the foundation for using opportunistic screening to address the lack of access to osteoporosis and heart disease prevention, as well as to screening for cancer and diabetes.”

While these findings highlight the transformative potential of AI in preventive healthcare, Bredella emphasizes the need for further research to determine whether early identification through imaging can lead to effective interventions that reduce illness and mortality.