Healing Hearts, Parker Hospital

Cardiovascular Cath Lab

Cardiac Diagnostic Lab

Online Heart Assessment

Coronary Artery Calcium Screening

A coronary artery calcium screening is a scan of your heart that can help doctors look for deadly plaque buildup.

What are the benefits of Coronary Calcium Screening?

• It is one of the most advanced methods available to determine heart disease in its earliest stages.
• Cardiac computed tomography (CT) for calcium screening is a convenient and noninvasive way of evaluating the coronary arteries. 
• Cardiac CT takes little time and causes no pain.
• The exam does not require injection of contrast material.
• The examination can suggest the presence of Coronary Artery Disease even when the coronary arteries are less than 50 percent narrowed. Standard cardiac tests will not reliably detect this level of blockage, and more than half of all heart attacks occur with less than 50 percent narrowing.
• No radiation remains in a patient’s  body after a CT examination.

Getting Your Exam Results

A radiologist experienced in the interpretation of calcium scoring CT scans will analyze the data and results from you exam and compile a report. This report will be mailed to your physician.

What the Score Means

A report of your heart score will be sent to your physician who will discuss the results with you and make recommendations based on your score.

Calcium Score Presence of Plaque

0 No evidence of plaque
1–10 Minimal evidence of plaque
11–100 Mild evidence of plaque
101–400 Moderate evidence of plaque
Over 400 Extensive evidence of plaque

A physician’s referral is recommended but not required. Results will be sent to your doctor.

To schedule a heart scan call, 303-269-4500.