Cardiac Scoring

Exam Explanation: Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring is a non-invasive exam used to detect coronary artery disease (Atherosclerosis) or calcium build-up in the coronary arteries of the heart and the amount of calcium present is related to your risk for a heart attack.

Exam Preparation: No caffeine, no cold medications four hours prior to the exam.

During the Exam: You will be asked to lie down on the CT exam table and the technologist will place EKG leads on your upper chest to track your heart rate. You will then be asked to hold your breath while the images are taken. There are no contrast injections or needles used. Once the exam is complete the Radiologist will interpret your results and calculate your cardiac score. The cardiac score can detect early signs of heart disease and your risk level.