CT Coronary Calcium Score

Calcium Score, or CT Coronary Calcium Score, is a diagnostic procedure used to detect "calcifications in the coronary arteries" using a computed tomography (CT) scan. Its purpose is to assess the "degree of deterioration" in the coronary arteries and evaluate the "risk" of developing coronary artery disease in the future, even in the absence of symptoms.

For further information or Booking..

Advantages of Calcium Score:

**High Accuracy in Risk Assessment:** Provides a highly accurate assessment of the risk of coronary artery disease, facilitating timely prevention or intervention planning.
**Easy and Painless Examination:** The procedure is straightforward, painless, and requires minimal time.
**No Contrast Injection, Low Radiation Exposure:** No contrast dye injection is needed, resulting in minimal radiation exposure and ensuring safety.
**Cost-Effective:** The procedure is relatively cost-effective.

How is Calcium Score Different from Exercise Stress Test (EST)?

Given that the process of coronary artery narrowing occurs gradually, from mild to severe, it is a slow progression of arterial damage. The presence of atherosclerosis in the later stages leads to the development of hardened coronary arteries, resulting in blockages, obstructions, or ruptures. Calcium Score allows early detection of changes or deterioration in the arteries from the initial stages.

In contrast, an Exercise Stress Test (EST) involves assessing blood flow during physical exertion or heavy heart activity. Arteries that are significantly narrowed impede normal blood flow, causing chest discomfort and changes in heart electrical activity during exercise. The assessment outcome is typically:

“Abnormalities in EST are detected only when the coronary arteries are significantly narrowed.”

However, Calcium Score (CAC) can identify abnormalities in the arteries with calcifications adhering to the vessel walls, even in the early stages when there are no symptoms.

Therefore, CAC is a diagnostic tool capable of detecting “deterioration” in the coronary arteries from the early stages when there are no symptoms. This aids in evaluating the “risk” of future heart disease promptly and efficiently, guiding appropriate management or treatment to reduce the risk of developing severe coronary artery disease.

Relationship between Calcium Score and Future Heart Disease Risk:

In addition to identifying calcifications, Calcium Score reveals the degree of arterial deterioration. The quantity of calcifications is related to the plaque burden in the arteries, indicating a higher burden with greater arterial damage.

Most importantly:

“The quantity of calcifications detected provides clear insight into the risk of developing heart disease in the next 5-10 years.”

For further information or Booking..

This fact has been known in the global medical community for over 20 years, with numerous studies conducted in the United States, Europe, and Thailand. Many medical professionals, including numerous Thai physicians, have shown great interest and importance in this information. Research studies, such as the MESA study conducted in the United States for over 20 years with over 2,000 published papers, have provided crucial perspectives on this matter.