Question 1

what must one expect during coronary calcium scan?

Accepted Answer

Not much: Hold your breath as instructed.  It will be over in a matter of seconds unless they are doing a more complete coronary scan and not just a calcium score.

Question 2

during non-invasive ct cardiac calcium (agatston) scoring scan is one more likely to find calcium (plaques)deposits in thoracic aorta or coronary arteries in 68 year old men? why?

Accepted Answer

: NATURALLY, atherosclerotic vascular disease (one of the manifestations is calcium plaques by X-ray studies) progresses with AGING, worse in patients with history of uncontrolled hypertension and hyperlipidemia, usually more pronounced in men than women at the same age and same risk factors.

Question 3

earlier this year,  i did  calcium coronary score and results came 512?.  i was wondering what this means?   i am active, exercise every day for one t

Accepted Answer

Possible disease: Calcium in the coronary arteries indicates that there may be atherosclerosis present. Calcium appears in plaques due to microscopic changes stimulated by cholesterol which has accumulated. Symptoms do not usually occur unless the plaque blocks more than 70% of the vessel. A visit to a cardiologist should be considered to discuss risk factor modification and a possible work up to detect disease.

Question 4

what are the risks of getting  a coronary calcium scan?

Accepted Answer

Radiation exposure.: None except for that.  I plan on getting one.

Question 5

docs can you explain what is a coronary calcium scan?

Accepted Answer

CT scan: A coronary calcium scan is a test that looks for specks of calcium in the walls of the coronary (heart) arteries. These specks of calcium are called calcifications. The patient is put in a ct scanner and images are obtained of the heart. A score is given based on the amount of calcium detected in the coronary arteries. The score is helpful in assessing the risk of heart attacks.

Question 6

what is coronary calcium score? i had a ct scan and my total coronary calcium score is 102. what does this figure mean, bad, good or otherwise.

Accepted Answer

CAD & CALCIUM: The presence of calcium means hardening (atherosclerosis) of  heart artery. Inside the artery wall the fat, inflammation and calcium form plaque. The larger the score , greater the plaque burden and high risk of heart attack. 0-10  no plaque. 11-100 mild. 101-400 moderate and &gt;400 severe plaque. 102 is mild- moderate. Lipitor (atorvastatin) & Plavix good. Sometimes higher number but no obstruction on angiogram.

Question 7

how much cost/how much radiation on new ct scans would coronary calcium scan be on the whole body? could this be done with new tech x-ray and no ct?

Accepted Answer

Very small amount: However, a coronary calcium scan should only be done in the presence of intermediate or high risk of having coronary artery disease, Asymptomatic individuals without at least 3 risk factors for coronary artery disease (Diabetes, Hypertension, tobacco use, elevated cholesterol, Obesity, etc.) have a very high likelihood of having a falsely positive scan, thus rendering an abnormal scan unreliable.

Question 8

coronary ct angiogram shows extremely high calcium score of 4242 and ~ 70% blockage one artery. next step cath angio. should i consider atherectomy?

Accepted Answer

Cardiologist: I suggest you allow the interventional Cardiologist choose the appropriate treatment. You def need a Cardiac Cath. During Cath a stent may be required, balloon angioplasty may be required, or referral for bypass.

Question 9

is a coronary calcium ct scan a good test to see of there is plaque in the heart arteries? how accurate is it? my cta was inconclusive. heart rate fas

Accepted Answer

Coronary Calcium: Coronary Calcium analysis is a method to detect calcified cholesterol in the coronary arteries. A score of zero is quite helpful and predictive in the correct age group. The difficulty is that in younger people, there may be noncalcified cholesterol plaques in the arteries which would not be detected on a coronary calcium screening test, so cardiac CTA or invasive angiography would be considered.

Question 10

if one had a cardiac ct for calcium scoring in a 256 or 320 slice ct vs a 64 slice ct, is that somehow better for this test? is it lower radiation?

Accepted Answer

64 slice: CT is fine for calcium scoring.

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Doctor answers about:

What must one expect during coronary calcium scan

A member asked:

What must one expect during coronary calcium scan?

A member asked:

During non-invasive ct cardiac calcium (agatston) scoring scan is one more likely to find calcium (plaques)deposits in thoracic aorta or coronary arteries in 68 year old men? why?

A member asked:

Earlier this year, i did calcium coronary score and results came 512?. i was wondering what this means? i am active, exercise every day for one t

A member asked:

What are the risks of getting a coronary calcium scan?

A member asked:

Docs can you explain what is a coronary calcium scan?

A member asked:

What is coronary calcium score? i had a ct scan and my total coronary calcium score is 102. what does this figure mean, bad, good or otherwise.

A member asked:

How much cost/how much radiation on new ct scans would coronary calcium scan be on the whole body? could this be done with new tech x-ray and no ct?

A member asked:

Coronary ct angiogram shows extremely high calcium score of 4242 and ~ 70% blockage one artery. next step cath angio. should i consider atherectomy?

A member asked:

Is a coronary calcium ct scan a good test to see of there is plaque in the heart arteries? how accurate is it? my cta was inconclusive. heart rate fas

A member asked:

If one had a cardiac ct for calcium scoring in a 256 or 320 slice ct vs a 64 slice ct, is that somehow better for this test? is it lower radiation?

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