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Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Cardiac Calcium Scoring, also called a HeartView Scan, uses a CT
(Computed Tomography) scan to quantify calcium deposits in the
coronary artery. Cardiac Calcium Scoring is a quick and non-invasive
test that detects and measures the amount of calcium in your coronary
arteries, an indicator of heart disease.
Cardiac Calcium Scoring can detect calcium deposits before they get
large enough to obstruct the blood vessel lumen. This scoring test
will find plaque in the blood vessel wall. This is a valuable
screening test to identify an individual who has no symptoms, but has
significant plaque in the blood vessel wall. It is not unusual for
this small amount of plaque to change shape and attract a clot, thus
resulting in a heart attack.
It is important to note that this test should be done under the
supervision of a physician to properly use the data.
What you will experience
You will lie on a table that slides through a scanning devise that
resembles a large donut. The exam will be completed in about 15
minutes. The test is painless. No IV or contrast(dye) is used.
A series of cross section images of the heart, including the coronary
arteries, are recorded from the scanning. A subspecialty radiologist
examines each of the images, circling areas of calcification. The
calcium deposits are quantified. The radiologist uses this number to
score this test. With this information, the patient is put into one of
four or five categories of risk, ranging from normal to extremely high
risk.
An appropriate candidate is male, age 35-70, or female, ag | 
