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A Cardiac Calcium Scoring (HeartView) scan is a quick, non-invasive test that uses a a CT scan to detect and measure the amount of calcium in the arteries of the heart. Calcium accumulation is an indicator of heart disease.
Calcium deposits can be detected before they get large enough to clog the artery. This is a valuable screening test used to identify a patient who may have plaque in the blood vessel wall, but has no symptoms. It is not unusual for this small amount of plaque to change shape and attract a clot, thus resulting in a heart attack. Using the information obtained from the scan, the radiologist calculates the areas of calcification and uses this number to score the test into categories of risk for coronary artery disease.
An appropriate candidate is male, age 35-70, or female, age 40-70, who has any of the following factors:
Family history of heart disease Smoking Diabetes High cholesterol High blood pressure Overweight How you should prepare For most tests, no special preparation is needed. If preparation is required, you will be notified before the test. However, let us know about any of the following: Have a known coronary artery disease Have a resting heart rate above 90-95 beats per minute (resting tachycardia) If you are or may be pregnant
What happens during your exam
You will lie on a table that slides through the CT scanner. The exam will be completed in about 15 minutes. The test is painless. No IV’s or contrast (dye) will be used. A series of cross sectional images of the heart, including the coronary arteries, are obtained from the scan. After your exam A subspecialty board-certified radiologist will examine each of the images, circling areas of calcification. The calcium deposits are quantified. The radiologist uses this number to "score" this test. With this information, the patient is put into one of four or five categories of risk, ranging from normal to extremely high risk. The findings will be sent to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will contact you to discuss the results. Cost An increasing number of insurance plans now pay for Cardiac Calcium Scoring with a physician’s referral. Please check with your insurance company. For self referral patients, the charge for Cardiac Calcium Scoring is $275. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and personal checks. Payment is expected at the time the service is rendered. Available at: Coon Rapids, Southdale and Burnsville. |
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