CT Scan: Cardiac Scoring
CT Scan: Preparation Guidelines | iDose4 | Coronary CTA | Cardiac Scoring | Dental Scan | Frequently Asked Questions
Cardiac Scoring is a quick and painless test that can assess your risk of heart disease by detecting calcium deposits in the arteries.
A cardiac CT scan for coronary calcium is a non-invasive way of obtaining information about the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries - the vessels that supply oxygen-containing blood to the heart muscle. 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. 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.
How does it work?
Using our state-of-the-art Multidetector CT scanner, multiple images of the heart are obtained within seconds during a breath-hold. The amount of calcium or plaque within the coronary arteries is then determined. There are no needles or injections involved. After the study, the patient is free to return to their regular routine. One of our board-certified radiologists then determines the cardiac score with the aid of a computer work station. The exam takes less than 15 minutes.
What is the preparation?
You should avoid caffeine intake for at least two hours prior to the exam.
What are some of the common used of the procedure?
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.
The major risk factors for CAD are:
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Family history of heart attacks
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Overweight or obese
• Physical Inactivity
