Artificial intelligence–powered insights into high-risk, non-obstructive coronary atherosclerosis: a case report

TL;DR

This case report shows how AI-enhanced cardiac CT can identify high-risk coronary plaques in non-obstructive cases, enabling personalized risk assessment.

Contribution

Demonstrates the clinical utility of AI-based software in identifying high-risk non-obstructive coronary plaques via cardiac CT.

Findings

AI-enhanced cardiac CT identified a high-risk non-obstructive plaque in a 44-year-old tennis player.

The use of AI software allowed for accurate and personalized risk stratification in this case.

AI-based tools may help integrate advanced plaque analysis into routine cardiac CT evaluations.

Abstract

Advanced coronary plaque analysis by cardiac computed tomography (CT) has recently emerged as a promising technique for better prognostic stratification. However, this evaluation application in clinical practice is still uncertain.

In the present case, we described the clinical picture of a 44-year-old tennis player with ectopic ventricular beats in which cardiac CT enabled the identification of a non-obstructive but high-risk plaque on proximal left anterior descendent artery. The application of artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced software enabled to better stratify the patients’ risk. The present case describes how early identification of non-obstructive but high-risk coronary plaque evaluated by cardiac CT using AI-enhanced software enabled accurate and personalized risk assessment.

The main clinical message of this case report is that advanced plaque analysis by cardiac CT, especially when performed with AI-based software, may provide important prognostic information leading to a personalized preventive approach. Moreover, AI-based software may contribute to promote a routine evaluation of these important data already included in traditional cardiac CT.

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