What Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring Is
Coronary artery calcium scoring, also known as a Heartscreen CT, is a specialized
type of CT scan. During this heart screening CT scan, which takes about 20-30 seconds,
the patient's heart rate is monitored while the CT scanner acquires rapid images of
the heart. Specialized software then uses the two pieces of information to construct
high resolution image slices through the heart to visualize the coronary arteries.
The scans will show whether or not there is any calcification in the coronary
arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. The presence of calcium
in the coronary arteries is a reliable indicator of coronary artery disease which,
if untreated, can progress to artery blockage and possibly to a heart attack. The
data is analyzed by a radiologist using a specialized computer program that calculates
the total amount of calcium present in the arteries and will give a comparison of where
the patients' coronary calcium level is relative to people of the same gender and age
group. This information is then compiled into a report, which will be sent to you and
your doctor.
The coronary artery calcium score is powerful predictor of future heart attack risk
and can be a powerful motivator of health and lifestyle change for patients.
Invision Sally Jobe offers Heartscreen CT scans at several of our outpatient centers in the South Denver
Metro area of Colorado.