Calcium Scoring

What is Cardiac CT for Calcium Scoring?

CT scanning is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.CT imaging combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These cross-sectional images of the area being studied can then be examined on a computer monitor or printed and provide greater clarity and reveal more details than regular x-ray exams.

CT Cardiac Calcium Score is performed to check for the build up of calcified plaque on the walls of the coronary arteries of the heart.  This test is used to check for heart disease in an early stage and to determine how severe it is.  Cardiac Calcium Scoring is also called coronary artery calcium scoring. Calcified plaque is a build up of fat and other substances, including calcium, and is a sign of atherosclerosis; a disease of the vessel wall, which is called coronary artery disease (CAD).

What are some common uses of procedure?

It is a screening study that may be recommended by a physician for patients with risk factors for CAD but no clinical symptoms. The major risk factors for CAD are:

Abnormally high blood cholesterol levels Family history of heart disease Diabetes High blood pressure

Cigarette smoking Being overweight or obese Being physically inactive

How should I prepare?

No special preparation is necessary in advance of a cardiac CT examination. You may continue to take your usual medications, but should avoid caffeine and smoking for four hours before the exam. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. Metal objects including jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures and hairpins may affect the CT images and should be left at home or removed prior to your exam. You may also be asked to remove hearing aids and removable dental work.

Women should always inform their physician and the CT technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant

What should I expect during this procedure?

The technologist begins by positioning you on the CT examination table, usually lying flat on your back. Electrodes will be attached to your chest and to an electrocardiograph (ECG) machine that records the electrical activity of the heart. This makes it possible to record CT scans when the heart is not actively contracting.

Next, the table will move quickly through the scanner to determine the correct starting position for the scans. Then, the table will move slowly through the machine as the actual CT scanning is performed. Patients are asked to hold their breath for a period of 20 to 30 seconds while images are recorded.

A special computer program processes this large volume of data to create two-dimensional cross-sectional images of your body, which are then displayed on a monitor

When the examination is completed, you will be asked to wait until the technologist verifies that the images are of high enough quality for accurate interpretation. The entire procedure including the actual CT scanning is usually completed within 10 minutes.

After a CT exam, you can return to your normal activities.