CT Calcium Score Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan
A quick, low-dose CT scan that measures calcium build-up in the heart arteries.
- Reviewed by a cardiologist
Calcium in the walls of the heart arteries is a sign of plaque, the build-up that causes heart attacks. A calcium score scan uses a low-dose CT scan, without any injection, to measure it. The score helps the doctor judge your future risk more precisely than risk factors alone, and decide whether you need cholesterol-lowering medicine.
- Whether there is calcified plaque in the heart arteries
- Your calcium score (Agatston score), and how it compares with people of your age and sex
- Which arteries are involved
- Deciding whether to start cholesterol-lowering medicine
- A family history of early heart disease
- Borderline or intermediate heart risk on a check-up
- Diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol with no symptoms
- No fasting and no injection are needed
- Avoid caffeine and smoking for a few hours before the scan
- Wear clothes without metal at the chest, or you may change into a gown
- Tell us if you might be pregnant
- You lie on the CT table and ECG stickers are placed on your chest
- You hold your breath for a few seconds while the scan is taken
- The scan is over in minutes and you can carry on with your day
The calcium score is calculated and the cardiologist explains what it means for your risk, and whether medicines or further tests are advised.
Questions
What does a calcium score of zero mean?
A score of zero means no calcified plaque was seen. In large studies, people with a zero score had a very low rate of heart attacks over the following years.
Is there an injection?
No. The calcium score scan uses no contrast dye.
How much radiation is there?
It is a low-dose scan, roughly comparable to the natural background radiation of about a year.
Is a calcium score the same as a CT angiography?
No. The calcium score measures calcium only, with no injection. CT coronary angiography uses contrast dye to show the inside of the arteries and any narrowing.
How do I book it?
Book through Care Heart Centre; the team confirms the scan time and place, and the cardiologist reviews your result with you.
Other tests
All tests
ECGElectrocardiogram
2D EchoEchocardiography with Doppler
TMTTreadmill stress test
Stress EchoStress echocardiography
Ambulatory BP24-hour BP monitoring (ABPM)
24-hour HolterHeart rhythm recording
Blood testsPathology- Sleep studyTest for sleep apnoea (OSA)
- ELRExtended heart rhythm monitoring
- CT Coronary AngiographyNon-invasive scan of the heart arteries