CT CALCIUM SCORE
What is CT Coronary Calcium Score?
A CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score is a non-invasive medical test to obtain information on the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. It is measured by taking a special computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart. The scan shows the amount of hardening of the artery wall (the disease that causes this hardening is called atherosclerosis). The results of the scan make it possible to estimate the risk of a heart attack or stroke (brain attack) in the next 5–10 years. The higher the calcium score, the higher the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
A high calcium score does not mean that you will have a heart attack, only that there is a greater likelihood of having one than someone with a low score. Even a person with a score of zero could have a heart attack.
Why should I care about this CT Calcium Score?
Because a high score here means bad news for your heart and arteries. For some information on what might happen to people with high calcium scores, click on the button below.
What Does My Calcium Score Mean?
Calcium in your blood vessels is a marker of coronary artery disease. Hence the amount of calcium detected in a CT Coronary Calcium Score is a useful tool for your doctor to make a diagnosis. The information acquired in a CT Coronary Calcium Score is known as a Calcium Score.
If you have no symptoms and your Calcium Score is 0 (normal), your chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years is low (approximately less than 1%). In this case, you are less likely to benefit from aggressive
Calcium Score : 0
Low Risk
Calcium Score : 200
Moderate Risk
Calcium Score : 1191
High Risk
In general, the higher your score, the more likely you are to have coronary artery disease. If your score is high, your doctor may recommend further action.
Should I Undergo A CT Coronary Calcium Score?
Heart disease is one of the major causes of death in Malaysia. Protect yourself from this disease by undergoing the CT Coronary Calcium Score test. If you’re 30 and above and have high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, family history of coronary artery disease, past or present smoker, are overweight or lead an inactive or sedentary lifestyle, the CT Coronary Calcium Score comes highly recommended. Even if you’re an individual not in the high risk category, it is advisable to undergo the procedure to safeguard yourself in future.
The Benefits Of Doing A CT Coronary Calcium Score
Early Diagnosing
It provides incremental information in diagnosing early coronary artery disease compared to traditional clinical risk factor and stress test.
Fast Test
It is a very fast test, causes no pain and does not require injection of contrast material. It is as fast as taking a normal photograph.
Evaluate Risk
It is a convenient and non-invasive way to evaluate whether you have an increased risk of heart attack.
Lower Radiation
The amount of radiation that you are exposed to is relatively lower with the 640-Slice CT Scanner. Our centre uses
DOCTOR IN CHARGE
Dr. David Khoo Sin Keat
Consultant Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon
Dr. Wong Teck Wee
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Dr. Chong Yoon Sin
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Dr. Yap Yee Guan
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
What is CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score?
A CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score is a non-invasive medical test to obtain information on the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. It is measured by taking a special computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart. The scan shows the amount of hardening of the artery wall (the disease that causes this hardening is called atherosclerosis). The results of the scan make it possible to estimate the risk of a heart attack or stroke (brain attack) in the next 5–10 years. The higher the calcium score, the higher the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
A high calcium score does not mean that you will have a heart attack, only that there is a greater likelihood of having one than someone with a low score. Even a person with a score of zero could have a heart attack.
What and who will benefit from the Coronary Artery Calcium Score?
The benefit of this Coronary Artery Calcium Score is to gain better understanding on the relative risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the mere future, and using that information to decide on approaches to reduce the risk.
Your doctor may decide that a second calcium score scan after a few years might be helpful to compare the results with the previous scan.
The calcium score are most informative for women aged between 35 and 70 years and men aged between 40 and 60 years in terms of providing information about cardiovascular risk, or the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Scores in patients outside these age ranges do not have any value in assessing increased risk.
Who will not benefit from a Coronary Artery Calcium Score?
The calcium score is of no benefit to someone who has already had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery or a coronary artery stent. These events have already indicated a high risk. A calcium score cannot be used to see if any treatment is working or not.
