Cardiac Calcium Scoring

How the cardiac calcium score works

When you have calcification in your arteries — known as atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease (CAD) — it narrows the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. This puts you at risk for a heart attack. 

Cardiac calcium scoring, also called coronary calcium score, relies on computer tomography (referred to as a CT or CAT scan), which uses X-rays and a powerful computer to generate clear images of your bones, internal organs, soft tissue and blood vessels. A CT allows your doctor to see if you have calcification in your coronary arteries and, if so, how much. 

A negative cardiac calcium score means you do not have calcification. A positive score means you may need more diagnostic tests or interventions to prevent a potentially serious heart attack.