← All services · X-ray, CT, MRI
Coronary calcium score
coronary calcium score · calcium scoring · CAC score · Agatston score · heart scan
A short CT scan of the heart without contrast dye. It measures how much calcium is in the heart's arteries. Calcium is a sign of hardened arteries.
To estimate the risk of heart disease in people with no symptoms, when the doctor is deciding on prevention.
⏱ Duration: usually 10 to 15 minutes in the room; the scan itself takes a few seconds; results the same or the next day
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Prep. No injection is needed. You can eat and drink.
- Coffee. You are usually asked to skip coffee and energy drinks that day. Check with the clinic.
- Clothing. No metal on the chest. Better to take off an underwire bra and necklaces.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Cholesterol test results, if you have them
How it goes
- ECG stickers are put on your chest
- You lie on your back with your arms behind your head
- The table moves into the ring of the scanner
- Hold your breath for a few seconds while the image is taken
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt. There are no injections
Afterwards
- You can go about your day right away
- The result is a number, the calcium score. Take it to a cardiologist or your doctor
Common questions
What does a score of zero mean?
No calcium was found in the heart's arteries. This usually means a low risk in the next few years.
If calcium is found, does that mean a heart attack?
No. It is a sign of deposits in the arteries. Your doctor will decide if you need prevention or more tests.