Starting this August, Starling Radiology Will Offer Calcium Scoring, the Most Advanced Screening Method to Determine Risk of Heart Disease with Coronary CT Scan
July 16, 2019
The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Plaque – made of fat, calcium, and other substances – can build up and narrow or close the arteries. Plaque or calcium build-up in the coronary arteries causes heart disease and can lead to a heart attack.
To detect this build-up, your physician may order coronary calcium scoring, a test that is also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, a heart scan, or calcium score.
Calcium scoring is a non-invasive CT scan (computed tomography) of the heart to calculate your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) by measuring the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. It is a quick and painless test that is performed by a Starling CT technologist with the assistance of a radiologist.
The coronary calcium scan is a better predictor of coronary events than cholesterol screening or other risk factor assessments. Your primary care provider can advise you if you are a good candidate.
The coronary calcium score is fast, non-invasive, and inexpensive. The out-of-pocket cost is only $99. Talk to your primary care doctor about whether you are a good candidate for coronary calcium scoring.