title: Update on coronary artery calcium imaging.
abstract: This update of coronary calcium imaging discusses methods of detecting and measuring coronary artery calcium and their correlation to coronary artery disease risk. The value of EBCT to traditional non-invasive cardiovascular tests is compared. A negative EBCT test makes the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, including unstable plaque, very unlikely. Negative EBCT may be consistent with low risk of a cardiovascular event over the next 2-5 years. Conversely, positive EBCT confirms the presence of a coronary plaque. The greater the amount of calcium, the greater the likelihood of occlusive disease, but there is a not a 1:1 relationship and findings may not be site specific. A high calcium score may be consistent with moderate to high risk of cardiovascular event within the next 2-5 years. Limitations and cautions concerning the general use of EBCT for screening are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. Ninth Ave, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Lawrence.Hergott@UCHSC.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hergott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium