Cardiac CT for Calcium Scoring

Coronary Heart Disease is the #1 cause of death and disability in the United States. Unfortunately, in many cases, the first signs of coronary heart disease may be a heart attack and possible death. By detecting coronary heart disease at an early stage and modifying your risk factors, the potential for advanced heart disease can be drastically reduced. A coronary calcium scan is a test that can help show whether you have coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease.

The Heart Scan is used to detect calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. It is the most sensitive non-invasive test for the detection of non-obstructive coronary cholesterol plaque available. Calcified plaque results when there is a build-up of fat and other substances under the inner layer of the artery. This material can calcify which signals the presence of atherosclerosis, a disease of the vessel wall, also called coronary artery disease (CAD). People with this disease have an increased risk for heart attacks. In addition, over time, progression of plaque buildup (CAD) can narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart. The result may be chest pain, sometimes called "angina," or a heart attack.

Because calcium is a marker of CAD, the amount of calcium detected on a cardiac CT scan is a helpful prognostic tool. The findings on cardiac CT are expressed as a calcium score. Another name for this test is coronary artery calcium scoring.

The Heart Scan is appropriate for men 35 or older and women 40 or older with any of the following risk factors:


High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
History of tobacco use
Family history of heart disease
Overweight or obese
Significant emotional or
Job-related stress
Heart scans can help detect life threatening illness such as heart disease. What's really exciting is the ability to detect diseases at an early stage, which can offer patients a greater number of treatment options.

Cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading killer of adults. Physicians use CT scans to quickly see an incredible level of detail regarding a person's heart and coronary arteries. It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats, while reducing radiation doses by up to 80 percent. If heart and vascular disease is discovered at an early stage, doctors can recommend more effective treatment options and lifestyle changes that can reduce risk and potentially save lives.