CT Calcium Score

What is a CT Calcium Score?

CT Calcium Score is a specialised CT technique that is used to detect calcium on the coronary arteries that supply the heart. The presence of calcium reflects coronary artery disease (CAD), and CT can detect it before symptoms (such as a heart attack) occur. Early detection allows time to modify risk factors. 

Understanding your CT Calcium Score

Your doctor or Cardiac Specialist may recommend you have a CT calcium score test if you have hereditary risk factors (such as family history of heart disease) or other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, are (or have been) a smoker or have high alcohol consumption. 
The scan shows whether or not there is calcified plaque in your coronary arteries. Calcified plaque narrows or blocks coronary arteries, which puts you at risk of coronary artery disease, angina or heart attack. CT scanning shows the presence, location and extent of the plaque, and these all indicate how much you are at risk.

Before your scan:

• Before your appointment we will tell you everything you need to know.
• Unless you’ve been asked not to, you should take all your usual medications and continue eating and drinking normally, with the exception of caffeine.
• Please do not have caffeine (including drinking tea, coffee, cola, energy drinks or eating chocolate) within two hours of the scan as this can elevate your heart rate.
• Avoid active exercise before your scan (walking is fine).
• Do let us know if you suffer from allergies or if you have diabetes or kidney disease.

On the day of your scan:

When you arrive:

• Please check in with reception
• You may need to remove jewellery, some items of clothing or change into one of our gowns.

During your CT scan

• Heart monitor wires will be placed on your chest.
• On rare occasions the heart rate may be too fast and you may be offered a pill called Metoprolol to reduce your pulse rate. If you are one of the few patients that needs to take Metoprolol to reduce your heart rate, you will need to wait 30-60 minutes for it to take effect.
• Medical Imaging Technologist (MIT) will help position your body on the scanner bed.
• Your MIT will move to the adjacent room to start the scan – you can talk to them at any time over the intercom.
• The bed will slide in and out of the CT scanner, which is shaped like a big doughnut.
• You’ll have to stay very still during your scan and will need to hold your breath for several seconds.

After your CT scan

• Most people can get on with their day straight afterwards.