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| Cardiac Imaging Specially acquired computerized tomography can detect and quantify coronary calcification with a high degree of sensitivity. Calcification is a marker for the presence of atherosclerotic plaque. The greater the amount of calcium, the more likely is the presence of stenotic coronary artery disease. Patients with no calcium tend to have a low risk for significant coronary artery disease. At Saint Johns Health Center, high-resolution cardiac gated computerized tomography of the coronary arteries is performed utilizing a Siemens multi-detector helical scanner. ECG leads are used to gate the scan to the patient's heartbeat; the scan takes approximately twenty seconds during which the patient holds their breath. The arterial calcifications are analyzed using ScImage, generating a coronary artery calcium "score" and quantifying a patient's risk for future myocardial infarction. The radiologist analyzes these results and a summary of their findings is reported. This includes the total number of calcifications and the breakdown of their location in each of the coronary arteries. Reports of the findings are provided to both the patient and their physician. Screening for coronary arterial calcification is most appropriate for those with risk factors such as family history of heart disease, elevated cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and a history of smoking. The results of these scans should be used in conjunction with the whole clinical picture and may lead to further evaluation/tests. Coronary artery calcium scoring can be used as a powerful tool to convince patients to appropriately alter their lifestyle. |
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