Coronary heart disease ("atherosclerosis") is the nation’s leading killer, and is responsible for more deaths than all types of cancer combined. In 2006, more than one million Americans will suffer a heart attack. More than 50% of the patients suffering their first heart attack this year will have no prior symptoms before their first coronary event or death. Coronary heart disease is caused by the accumulation of "plaque" within the arteries of the heart, and was previously called "hardening of the arteries".
Coronary artery calcium scoring (CCS) is a proven, non-invasive, method that can directly identify plaque build up in the coronary (heart) arteries. This test has been performed on tens of thousands of patients in the United States. More than 100 scientific articles proving the validity of this test have been published in the last 10 years. This year, an international panel of leading cardiologists endorsed this technique, arguing that virtually everyone between the ages of 45-75 should be screened with the test. Such screening of the population could save 90,000 lives per year.
Yet, despite the growing acceptance of calcium scoring’s value, many doctors remain uncertain when and how to use this test effectively. Some of the most commonly asked questions about this procedure include:
Does calcium scoring predict a patient’s risk of heart attack or death?
YES. Calcium scoring predicts a patient’s risk of heart attack or death over five years with higher sensitivity than stress testing or any other known risk factors. In fact, an individual with a calcium score in the highest quartile for age (greater than 75th% rank) is more than 6 (six) times likely to have a heart attack than a patient with no coronary calcium. The risk of death in an individual with a calcium score greater than 1000 is more than 12 times higher than that of an individual with a calcium score less than 10.
Does calcium scoring predict the presence of high grade blockages in coronary arteries?
YES. Asymptomatic patients with a calcium score of less than 100 will only rarely have an abnormal stress test (fewer than 5%). If the calcium score is 0, the probability that an asymptomatic person has a significant blockage is less than 1% (one percent). Conversely, patients with a calcium score of more than 400 can be expected to have a positive stress test in up to 40% of the cases.
Who should be considered for this test?
Calcium scoring has been shown to be useful in patients with low, intermediate, and high risk for heart attack by other risk assessment methods (most commonly used = Framingham Criteria). Calcium scoring has also been shown to be accurate in men and women in all age groups.
We believe that calcium scoring is particularly useful in patients who are at intermediate risk for coronary disease, and who are either being considered for or have begun lipid lowering drug therapy.
Is this test covered by insurance? If not, how much does calcium scoring cost?
We are discovering more and more insurance carriers are paying for this study. We will file your insurance but request a waiver be signed accepting responsibility in the event that your insurance carrier partially pays or denies. The cost of this exam is $350.00.
After obtaining a referral from your physician you can call to schedule your Cardiac Calcium Scoring appointment at any of these locations:
CARY
300 Ashville Ave., Suite 100 · Cary, NC 27518 · (919) 233-5338
From the 440 Beltline: Take Exit 1 (US 1 South). Take Exit 98-A (Tryon Road East). Merge onto Tryon Road. Between the 2nd and 3rd stoplights, turn left onto Ashville Ave. The 4th driveway on the right is the parking lot for 300 Ashville Ave.
NORTHWEST RALEIGH
American Institute of Healthcare & Fitness · 8300 Health Park · Raleigh, NC 27615 · (919) 676-7575
From the 440 Beltline: Take the Six Forks Road North exit. After 5 miles, turn left onto Forum Drive and then left onto Health Park.
CHAPEL HILL
110 S. Estes Drive · Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · (919) 942-3196
Take I-40 towards Chapel Hill. Take the Hwy. 15-501 Exit. Turn South on Hwy. 15-501 towards Chapel Hill. When road forks, remain right on Franklin Street. Turn Left at 3rd stoplight onto Estes Drive. Wake Radiology is immediately on right after Pizza Hut.
NORTH HILLS
3821 Merton Drive · Raleigh, NC 27609 · (919) 787-7411
From the 440 Beltline: Take Exit 8-A (Six Forks South). At the second stoplight, turn left onto Barrett Drive. Take the next left onto Haworth Drive. Take the next right onto Merton Drive. Wake Radiology Diagnostic Imaging is the 2nd building on the left.
Toll Free 800-675-2232
I have been scheduled for coronary artery calcium scoring. What do I need to know? What should I expect during my exam?
Refrain from caffeine for 24 hours before your exam. This will help maintain a slow steady heart rate, improving the quality of your examination. Typically, no medications and no IV’s are needed for this examination. You will lie, on your back, in the scanner. X-rays of your heart will be made during a single breath hold. The examination should be completed within 5-10 minutes. Your examination will then be quality controlled for accuracy by a board certified radiologist, and your score calculated by computer analysis. The result will be sent directly to your physician within hours of your exam completion.