Going into effect in 2026, the new CPT codes may facilitate increased adoption of the CaRi-Heart software for detecting coronary inflammation from computed tomography scans pending FDA clearance of the technology.
The American Medical Association has unveiled new CPT codes for artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted perivascular fat analysis derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), which has demonstrated enhanced preventative cardiac risk stratification capability for people without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).
Currently pending 510(k) clearance from the FDA, the AI-powered CaRi-Heart software utilizes a perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) score to evaluate coronary arterial inflammation, according to Caristo Diagnostics, the developer of the CaRi-Heart software.
New CPT codes will go into effect on January 1, 2026 for artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted perivascular fat analysis derived from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). (Image courtesy of Caristo Diagnostics.)
In a 2024 multicenter study involving over 40,000 patients who had CCTA, researchers found that a high FAI score was associated with a greater than fourfold higher risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and a greater than sixfold higher risk of cardiac mortality in comparison to those with low or medium FAI scoring.
The Category III CPT codes X409T and the add-on code X434T for AI-assisted and CCTA-derived perivascular fat analysis will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
"This is a huge leap forward in the fight against heart disease, and a major validation that AI-powered coronary inflammation analysis belongs in routine care," said Frank Cheng, CEO of Caristo Diagnostics. "With CPT approval, we are laying the foundation for a future where every at-risk American has access to precision risk assessment, moving heart care from late-stage intervention to truly preventive medicine."
FDA Clears Virtually Helium-Free 1.5T MRI System from Siemens Healthineers
June 26th 2025Offering a cost- and resource-saving DryCool magnet technology, the Magnetom Flow.Ace MRI system reportedly requires 0.7 liters of liquid helium for cooling over the lifetime of the device in contrast to over 1,000 liters commonly utilized with conventional MRI platforms.
FDA Clears Ultrasound AI Detection for Pleural Effusion and Consolidation
June 18th 2025The 14th FDA-cleared AI software embedded in the Exo Iris ultrasound device reportedly enables automated detection of key pulmonary findings that may facilitate detection of pneumonia and tuberculosis in seconds.
Multinational Study Reaffirms Value of Adjunctive AI for Prostate MRI
June 16th 2025The use of adjunctive AI in biparametric prostate MRI exams led to 3.3 percent and 3.4 percent increases in the AUC and specificity, respectively, for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in a 360-person cohort drawn from 53 facilities.