Validation studies and detecting tiny plaques

Dr. Erin Faules joins cardiologist Dr. James Min to discuss how coronary CT angiography can identify coronary artery disease before symptoms appear. They explain why plaque itself—not cholesterol levels or stress tests—is the underlying disease, how plaque type and burden shape cardiovascular risk, and why many heart attacks occur without prior warning. The conversation explores how imaging can guide more individualized prevention, inform treatment over time, and shift cardiology toward earlier, disease-focused care.