CT Scan calcium scoring study is a non- invasive way of obtaining information about presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Because calcium is a marker of CAD, the amount of calcium detected on a cardiac CT scan is helpful prognostic tool. The findings on cardiac CT are expressed as a calcium score.

1. Role of
CALCIUM SCORING
(CARDIAC CT)
in Coronary Artery Disease
Dr. Ritesh Prajapati
MD DMRE
X-Ray House, Kalpana Cinema Road, Near New Bus station,
Anand - Gujarat Ph. 9978000738, 266969, 257001
care@xrayhouseanand.com www.xrayhouseanand.com
For appointment: Ph 9978900738
PREPARED BY
Dr Hetal Prajapati
Mpharm PhD

2. It is a measurement of the
amount of calcium in the
walls of the arteries that
supply the heart muscle.
WHAT IS
CALCIUM SCORING?

3. It can predict the probability
of HEART ATTACK in
asymptomatic, middle aged
people and also gives a grade
for CAD (Coronary Artery
disease).

4. WHAT IS
CORONARY ARTERY
DISEASE OR CAD?
CAD is narrowing or
blockage of your coronary
arteries, usually due to
plaque buildup.

5. DID U KNOW??
According to WHO,
cardiovascular diseases claim
17.9 million lives annually.
At least 85 % of these people
die of heart attacks and strokes
including asymptomatic people
who seem perfectly healthy.

6. Dr. Ritesh Prajapati
MD DMRE
•Calcium gets deposited
along the walls of the
arteries wherever there is
scarring caused due to
the deposition of
cholesterol-and lipid-
laden plaques because of
atherosclerosis.
CORONARY CALCIUM AND
CORONARY PLAQUE?
With time, the gooey plaques along with
the calcium crystals undergo complex
vascular interactions, solidify and even
rupture, leading to blood clot and heart
attacks.
So, calcification in the coronary arteries
also means the highest chances of
plaque formation that will lead to
stenosis (narrowing) of artery and
blockage.

7. WHO SHOULD GET THEIR
CALCIUM SCORE ASSESSED?
Men starting at age 40-45,
women at menopause - earlier
if either group has a lot of
advanced risk factors like bad
family history, Asian- Indian
descent, diabetes, familial
hyperlipidemia (high
cholesterol), etc should get
their calcium score.

8. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
#If we find early disease,
we can treat it early. If we
find it late, people die or
get bypass surgery.#
CARDIAC CT OR CALCIUM
SCORING
“A MAMMOGRAM
OF HEART”

9. WHAT IS CARDIAC CT OR
CALCIUM SCORING?
•It is a non- invasive way of
obtaining information about
-presence,
-location and
-extent of calcified plaque in the
coronary arteries.
•Because calcium is a marker of
CAD, the amount of calcium
detected on a cardiac CT scan is
helpful prognostic tool.
•The findings on cardiac CT are
expressed as a calcium score.

10. HOW TO INTERPRET THE
CALCIUM SCORE?
CALCIUM SCORE SEVERITY OF
CAD
0 NO EVIDENCE OF
CAD
1-10 MINIMAL
11-100 MILD
101- 400 MODERATE
> 400 SEVERE
EXPLANATION:
•A 0 score indicates that chance of
a heart attack within next 5 years
is negligible.
•Between 100 and 400 is grey zone
and has to be interpreted in the
context of risk factors.

11. “Having a high calcium score
(> 100 or > than the average
for one’s age/sex) should be
a wake up call to get in better
shape, work on diet, and start
on preventive medications
too”

12. Your CT scan calcium score report
would give information of-
- calcium score,
- location of plaques
- your coronary age etc.

13. MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR CAD:
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Family history of heart attacks
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
“FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS
ALREADY HAD A HEART ATTACK,
THERE IS NO ADDED VALUE IN
CHECKING CALCIUM SCORE; THEY
SHOULD ALREADY BE ON
AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT”

14. “BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS IS A MUCH
BIGGER MOVEMENT
THAN HEART DISEASE
AWARENESS, EVEN
THOUGH HEART
DISEASES KILLS 10 TIMES
AS MANY WOMEN PER
YEAR AS BREAST
CANCER”.

15. HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
• No preparation needed.
• Wear comfortable, loose
fitting clothing to your exam.
• Continue taking usual
medications.
• Women should always inform
their physician and CT
technologist if there is any
possibility that they may be
pregnant.

16. HOW DOES THE PROCEDURE
WORK?
•Modern CT scanners are so
fast that they can scan
through large sections of the
body in just a few seconds.
Such speed is beneficial for all
patients but especially
children, the elderly and
critical ill.
“ DON’T WORRY WE GOT
YOU HERE- AS WE HAVE
THE LATEST 384 SLICE CT
SCANNER”

17. HOW IS THE PROCEDURE
PERFORMED?
•The technologist begins by
positioning you on the CT exam
table, usually lying flat on your
back.
•Electrodes (small, sticky disks) will
be attached to your chest and to an
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.
•The table will move next and the
patient will be asked to hold their
breath for a period of 5 seconds
while images are recorded.

18. EXPERIENCE DURING AND
AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
•Painless, fast and easy.
•After the CT exam, you can
return to your normal
activities.
Entire Procedure Time: 10 Min.
(Actual CT scanning time: < 5 seconds)

19. BENEFITS OF
CALCIUM SCORING:
•Convenient and Non
Invasive
•Minimal Radiation just like
mammogram.
•Need not to be taken
frequently (once in 5 years
is good enough).
•Risk assessment especially
in individuals considered
to be in the intermediate
risk by traditional
methods.

20. RISKS OR LIMITATIONS OF
CALCIUM SCORING METHOD
•CAD, especially in people below
50 years of age can be present
without calcium (non-calcified
plaque or acute thrombus) may
not be detected by this exam.
•This test is basically a screening
test to evaluate CAD, for further
quantification, Computed
tomography coronary
Angiography (CTCA) and Cath lab
Angiography might be required.
•It provides insights into your risk
and thus help in preventive
strategies.