An evidence-based guide for coronary calcium scoring in asymptomatic patients without coronary heart disease.
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: As public awareness and clinical use of CAC screening increases, physicians should, at a minimum, know the following information: 1) The presence of CAC indicates underlying CHD but does not predict luminal obstruction. 2) Non-contrast, prospectively ECG-gated cardiac EBCT and MDCT are sensitive, reproducible, rapid, and essentially equivalent imaging techniques commonly used to screen for CAC. 3) Currently, CAC screening is appropriate for all intermediate- risk patients and low-risk patients with a family history of premature CHD, and might be appropriate for all low-risk women. 4) The risks associated with CAC screening are a small but measurable excess risk of cancer and the risk of unnecessary downstream tests and procedures. 5) A CAC score of zero has a very high negative predictive value for CHD events. 6) Increasingly positive (non-zero) CAC scores are directly proportional to increased CHD event risk, and a CAC score >100 or greater than the 75th percentile indicates high risk. 7) Repeat screening to determine CAC progression or regression is not currently recommended.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: Nishant R Shah, Stephanie A Coulter
Institution: Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1576198356