A Gift for the Heart...Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring
For those who are looking for a meaningful gift for friends and family, The Imaging Center at SouthCoast Medical Group offers a gift for the heart. The Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring CT Heart Scan is a quick, painless method for the detection and risk assessment of coronary artery disease. For $99, you or your loved one is entitled to a Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring scan and interpretation by a radiologist. The results will be provided to you and your physician.
According to statistics from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms of heart disease.
To purchase a gift certificate for $99 call SouthCoast Imaging Center at 912-691-4200.
What is the goal of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring?
The goal of Coronary Artery calcium scoring is to determine the amount of calcium or plaque present—even for persons who do not have any symptoms. It is a screening that may be recommended by a physician for patients with risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
The major risk factors for CAD are:
- high blood cholesterol levels
- a family history of heart disease
- diabetes
- high-blood pressure
- cigarette smoking
- being overweight or obese
How should I prepare?
No special preparation is necessary. You may continue to take your usual medications, but should avoid caffeine and smoking for 12 hours prior to the exam.
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam with no metal snaps, buttons, zippers, etc.
What is the exam like?
The entire procedure, including the actual CT scanning, is usually completed within 10 to 20 minutes. During the scan, you will be asked to hold your breath for a period of 20 to 30 seconds while the images are recorded. When the exam is complete, you will be asked to wait until the technologist verifies that the images are high enough quality for the best interpretation. After the exam, you can return to your normal activities.
Who interprets the results? How do I get them?
One of our radiologists will interpret your results and then send a report to you and your physician who will then discuss the results with you.
What do the scores mean?
A negative cardiac CT scan shows no calcification within the coronary arteries. A positive test means that CAD is present, regardless of whether or not the patient is experiencing any symptoms. The amount of calcification—expressed as the calcium score—may help to predict the likelihood of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) in the coming years.
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Calcium Scoring Chart |
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Calcium Score |
Presence of CAD |
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0 |
no identifiable plaque with very low, generally, <5%, probability of significant CAD and very low implication for CV risk |
|
1-10 |
minimal identifiable plaque burden with very unlikely, <10%, probability of significant CAD and low implication for CV risk |
|
11-100 |
definite, at least mild, plaque burden with mild or minimal coronary stenoses likely and moderate implication for CV risk |
|
101-400 |
definite, at least moderate, atherosclerotic plaque burden, nonobstructive CAD highly likely, although obstructive disease possible and moderately high implication for CV risk |
|
Over 400 |
extensive atherosclerotic plaque burden, high likelihood (>89%) of at least one "significant" coronary stenosis and high implication for CV risk |
