What is Coronary Artery Calcium Score?
Calcification occurs in atherosclerotic plaques. Modern CT scanners are able to assess the amount of calcified plaque. This gives an estimate of the patient’s total plaque burden (calcified and non-calcified plaque). This can then be used to calculate the individual’s risk of having a significant cardiac event and to direct therapy.
How is the Calcium Score done?
A low radiation dose CT of the heart is obtained. No contrast is needed. A sophisticated computer program assesses the amount of calcified plaque in each of the coronary arteries.
Who should have a 64 Slice Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS)?
Asymptomatic patients with one or more of the following risk factors:
- Male over 40 years; female over 50 years
- Family history of coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Past or present smoker – lung scan for early abnormalities also suggested
- Diabetes or pre-diabetes
- Elevated cholesterol levels or C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels
- Obesity
What is CT Scanning?
A CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine that uses advanced x-ray technology to obtain cross-sectional images of the body. The scanner rotates around the patient. Each revolution generates a number of “slices”. Sophisticated fast computer technology is employed to create high quality 3-dimensional diagnostic images.
What is a 64 Slice Scanner?
A 64 Slice Scanner is the fastest and most advanced CT scanner available today. It has 64 detectors which obtain 128 “slices” per rotation. It is the only CT scanner capable of imaging both soft and hard plaque in the coronary arteries long before the patient becomes symptomatic.
Why is a 64 Slice CT Scan better than traditional methods of diagnosing cardiac disease?
Traditional stress tests and echocardiograms identify coronary artery disease once it is already in a more serious advanced phase. Coronary angiography is more invasive than CT Scanning and is not used as a screening method for early diagnosis of coronary disease.
What aspects of the cardiovascular system can be imaged by the 64 slice scanner?
The 64 Slice CT Scanner can image all the coronary arteries. It can also image carotid arteries in patients where there is risk of a stroke. Vessels of the lower extremities and other organs such as the kidneys can be successfully imaged. Extremity veins in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis can also be imaged. The scanner can also produce high quality images of the heart in patients with suspected congenital heart disease, cardiac mass, or diseases of the pericardium.
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