Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Overview
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) for Calcium Scoring uses special x-ray equipment to produce pictures of the coronary arteries to determine if they are blocked or narrowed by the buildup of plaque – an indicator for atherosclerosis, which cuts off blood flow to the heart muscle, often resulting in a heart attack. Also known as coronary artery disease (CAD) or simply heart disease, this condition is the number one killer of both women and men in America.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER SCREENING?
The goal of cardiac CT scan for calcium scoring is to determine if CAD is present and to what extent, even if there are no symptoms. A doctor may recommend cardiac calcium scoring for patients with risk factors for CAD but no clinical symptoms.
Anything that increases your chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor. The major risk factors for CAD are:
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Family history of heart attacks
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco smoking
• Overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
If you feel as though you are at risk for atherosclerosis or CAD, you may wish to ask your doctor if cardiac calcium scoring is right for you.
Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Imaging Centers & Clinics
WHAT TO EXPECT
During the procedure, you will lie comfortably on an imaging table. The technologist will attach small, sticky discs, called electrodes, to your chest and also to an electrocardiograph (ECG) machine, which will record the electrical activity of the heart. The table will then move through the CT scanner so it can take images of the coronary arteries. You will be asked to hold your breath for a period of 10 to 20 seconds while the images are recorded.
After the exam, a radiologist will review the images, looking for areas of arterial calcification (also known as plaque buildup). The total amount of plaque revealed in the images will be designated by a number called a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score.
A negative CAC score shows no calcification within the coronary arteries. This suggests that CAD is absent or so minimal it cannot be seen by this technique and that the chance of having a heart attack over the next two to five years is very low.
A positive test, however, means that CAD is present, regardless of whether or not the patient is experiencing any symptoms. This suggests that you are at a higher risk of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) in the coming years. Your medical doctor or cardiologist may recommend taking preventive medicine or undertaking other measures such as diet and exercise to lower the risk for heart attack.
Triad Radiology offers Cardiac Calcium Scoring at a variety of locations, including hospitals, imaging centers, and clinics. Contact us if you want to learn more or schedule an appointment.
