SCCT adds scans to Choosing Wisely list

In cooperation with the Choosing Wisely campaign, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) has released a list of five CT scan indications that it considers questionable.

In a statement, SCCT advised doctors and patients to skip the following tests:

• Avoid coronary artery calcium scoring for asymptomatic patients with known coronary artery disease (including stents and bypass grafts).
• Avoid coronary artery calcium scoring for preoperative evaluation for any surgery, regardless of patient risk.
• Avoid coronary artery calcium scoring for screening purposes in low-risk asymptomatic individuals except for those with a family history of premature coronary artery disease.
• Avoid routinely ordering coronary CT angiography (CCTA) for screening asymptomatic individuals.
• For emergency department patients presenting with acute chest pain and considered high risk based on Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score, don't order CCTA exams.

Choosing Wisely aims to promote discussion between patients and their physicians about the most appropriate tests to avoid tests and treatments that may offer no benefit to the patient, SCCT said. Members of SCCT's guidelines committee and publications and statements committee worked together to create the recommendations, which were finalized and approved by the organization's board of directors.