Barnes Jewish West County Hospital

Radiology 1

Cardiac Calcium Scoring

Cardiac calcium scoring uses a special X-ray test called computed tomography (CT) to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries). This test is used to check for heart disease in an early stage and to determine how severity.

The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. Normally, the coronary arteries do not contain calcium. Calcium in the coronary arteries is a sign of coronary artery disease (CAD).

A CT scan takes pictures of the heart in thin sections. The pictures are recorded in a computer and can be saved for more study or printed out as photographs.

Why It Is Done
Cardiac calcium scoring is done to:

To assist with the diagnosis of coronary artery disease CAD
Help determine severity of your heart disease
Help predict patients likelihood of devloping CAD


		Cardiac Calcium Scoring Cardiac calcium scoring uses a special X-ray test called computed tomography (CT) to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries). This test is used to check for heart disease in an early stage and to determine how severity. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. Normally, the coronary arteries do not contain calcium. Calcium in the coronary arteries is a sign of coronary artery disease (CAD). A CT scan takes pictures of the heart in thin sections. The pictures are recorded in a computer and can be saved for more study or printed out as photographs. Why It Is Done Cardiac calcium scoring is done to: To assist with the diagnosis of coronary artery disease CAD Help determine severity of your heart disease Help predict patients likelihood of devloping CAD