Benefits
of Cardiac Calcium Scoring
This non-invasive, pain-free test measures the amount of calcified
plaque in the coronary arteries. Calcified plaque represents coronary
artery disease. A high amount of plaque indicates an increased
chance of heart attack.
With this information, you and your doctor will have a better
idea if Calcium Scoring would help you better manage your health.
Clinical Overview
Atherosclerosis is the sole cause of calcium deposition in the coronary
arteries. CT is able to accurately detect and quantify these calcium
deposits. Therefore, a CT generated "coronary artery calcium
score" provides a quantitative measurement of a patient's
coronary artery atherosclerosis. The calcium score has been shown
to be a predictor for future coronary events. It should be noted
that calcium scoring is not a coronary angiogram and does not characterize
individual atherosclerotic plaques, nor does it quantify the degree
of a focal stenosis.
The Technology
University Radiology uses the latest 64 slice helical CT
technology to measure the coronary calcium score. The speed of these
high-tech scanners allows cardiac motion to be frozen producing
precise measurement of coronary artery calcium.
The
Calcium Score
The calcium score is a number that quantifies the overall size and
density of calcification in all of the coronary arteries and main
branches. The magnitude of the calcium score is used to assign a
qualitative interpretation1. See chart below
In addition to the overall calcium score, the score is broken down
into its anatomic distribution among the left main, left anterior
descending and branches, circumflex artery, right coronary artery
and posterior descending artery.
1Rumberger JA, Brundage BH, Rader DJ, Kondos G. Mayo Clin Proc
1999; 74:243-252
Frequently
Asked Questions About Cardiac Calcium Scoring
How does this test help patients?
Coronary calcium scoring has been shown to correlate with future
coronary events and helps stratify a patient’s risk. Specifically,
a negative test confers a low risk of future events, while a significantly
elevated score (>400) has been shown to correlate with obstructive
atherosclerosis. Of course, risk stratification is based on statistics
and occasionally a patient with a negative test can have obstructive
coronary disease.
What does a positive (non-zero) score mean?
That atherosclerosis is present. Atherosclerosis is the sole cause
of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This direct demonstration
of atherosclerosis may provide the motivation some patients need
to make lifestyle modifications to lower risk.
Is this test for symptomatic patients?
No. While studies have shown that coronary calcium scoring may help
to risk stratify symptomatic (i.e. chest pain) patients, coronary
calcium scoring does not replace the conventional work-up because
a false negative exam would lead to missing obstructive disease.
Who should get this test?
Asymptomatic patients in whom the physician wishes to more fully
assess their future risk of coronary events. The results of this
test should be interpreted in conjunction with an assessment of
other cardiac risk factors such as age, gender, hypertension, smoking,
family history, etc.
Contraindications
• Pregnancy
• Pacemakers
• Orthopedic hardware in the mid or lower thoracic spine
Patient
Preparation
Cardiac Scoring: Information and Preparation
• No tobacco, coffee, caffeinated soda, or chocolate for 6 hours
prior to the test.
• No vigorous exercise for 24 hours prior to the test.
• No gum chewing on the day of the test.
• Eat and take medications as normal.
University
Radiology Imaging Centers Offering Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Somerset
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