Introduction
TrueScan, a whole-body MRI facility based in St. Petersburg, Florida, now offers AI-powered coronary CT angiography (CCTA) evaluations to its patients. The advanced cardiac scans use Heartflow’s technology and can be booked as a standalone service or bundled with a full whole-body MRI package.
According to Michael Andoniades, TrueScan’s founder and CEO, this move makes the facility one of the first whole-body MRI providers in the United States to offer this type of integrated cardiovascular screening. The decision reflects both rising patient interest in preventive care and a clear gap in what whole-body MRI can assess on its own.
What Is AI-Powered CCTA?
Understanding Coronary CT Angiography
Coronary CT angiography, or CCTA, is a non-invasive imaging test. It produces detailed, three-dimensional images of the coronary arteries to detect abnormalities in blood flow. Physicians have used CCTA for decades as a diagnostic tool for cardiovascular disease.
How AI Enhances the Process
The addition of artificial intelligence takes this technology further. Heartflow’s FFR-CT platform uses AI algorithms to analyze plaque buildup in coronary arteries. It measures stenosis — the narrowing of an artery — and assesses fractional flow reserve (FFR), which indicates how much each narrowing affects blood flow. Together, these metrics reveal a patient’s true heart attack risk before symptoms appear.
Moreover, AI-powered CCTA can detect soft, calcified, and necrotic plaque — the unstable type most likely to rupture and trigger a cardiac event. Traditional calcium scoring misses soft plaque entirely. This distinction makes AI-powered CCTA a significantly more comprehensive tool for early detection.
Why TrueScan Added CCTA to Its Services
Andoniades said the decision came directly from feedback. Both patients and referring physicians had asked about coronary artery assessment as a complement to whole-body MRI. As he researched options, he became increasingly impressed with Heartflow’s capabilities.
“We were very interested in offering this new study because it’s gaining a lot of popularity,” Andoniades told Cardiovascular Business. “The technology is great, and it’s really helpful for screening people.”
Furthermore, the timing aligns with broader industry momentum. A new national CPT code for AI plaque analysis takes effect in January 2026, which will expand insurance reimbursement for the technology. Coverage for CCTA itself already exists through most major insurers when ordered for specific cardiovascular indications.
How CCTA Complements Whole-Body MRI
Filling the Coronary Gap
Whole-body MRI is a powerful screening tool. TrueScan’s scan covers the patient from brain to ankle, evaluating major organs, soft tissue, brain arteries, and carotid arteries. However, it does not capture the coronary arteries in sufficient detail for cardiac risk assessment.
“With whole-body MRI, we image from the brain all the way down to the ankle,” Andoniades explained. “The one area that we’re not getting with MR is the coronary arteries. So when you combine these, it really gives you a great picture of your health.”
A Comprehensive Health Package
Together, the two scans address the two most serious long-term health threats — cancer and cardiovascular disease. The whole-body MRI detects early-stage cancers, aneurysms, and more than 500 other conditions without radiation or contrast dye. Meanwhile, the AI heart scan delivers a focused, detailed analysis of coronary artery health. Combining both provides patients and physicians with a complete picture that neither scan offers independently.
Physician Oversight and Patient Safety
TrueScan has built physician review into every step of the CCTA process. A cardiologist reviews every scan result. Additionally, Robert Lazzara, MD — a veteran cardiothoracic surgeon — meets with each patient to discuss the procedure and address questions before and after the scan.
This approach ensures that patients receive clinical context alongside their results. It also reduces the risk of misinterpretation that can occur when patients receive complex imaging data without expert guidance.
Growing Demand for Preventive Cardiac Screening
Patients Are Paying Out of Pocket
Whole-body MRI providers like TrueScan have built their business model on a self-pay model. Insurance does not currently cover elective whole-body MRI scans. Nevertheless, more patients are choosing to invest in preventive screening before symptoms develop.
This trend reflects a wider cultural shift. Patients increasingly want proactive data about their health. They want to act early — before a condition becomes difficult or expensive to treat.
CCTA as the Natural Add-On
Andoniades sees AI-powered CCTA as the ideal complement to this growing service category. The scan takes roughly 15 minutes and provides high-resolution images of the coronary arteries. Results typically arrive within 48 to 72 hours. Therefore, patients who come in for a whole-body MRI can now leave with a comprehensive understanding of both their overall health and their specific cardiovascular risk.
What This Means for Patients
TrueScan’s expansion into AI-powered CCTA represents a meaningful step forward in accessible preventive cardiac care. It brings together two advanced technologies — whole-body MRI and AI-driven coronary analysis — under one roof, making comprehensive health screening more convenient than ever.
Patients at risk for heart disease, those with a family history of cardiac events, or individuals simply seeking a thorough health baseline now have access to one of the most complete preventive screening packages available. As AI continues to improve diagnostic accuracy and as insurance coverage expands, services like these are likely to become a standard part of preventive healthcare.
For now, TrueScan is positioning itself at the leading edge of this shift — offering patients a full-body view of their health and a clear window into the heart.
