What is the difference between Coronary Calcium Scoring and CT Coronary Angiogram (2023) 

Thank you

Thank you

Glad it was helpful!

🙏🏻

Glad it was helpful!

Very good question. Also incur CAC + CTCA costs. Why don't just do CTCA and confirm on any blockage condition?

Hi, you raise a valid point that I have addressed in my blog post under the "frequently asked questions" section: heartcare.sydney/what-is-coronary-artery-calcium-score-and-when-is-it-indicated/ While CTCA provides more information, the most important reason for choosing a CAC score in certain cases is to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment. We see many cases in practice where a CTCA was performed in asymptomatic patients, leading to severe anxiety or invasive treatments that were not needed, sometimes resulting in complications. In the past 20 years, there has been a significant shift in our understanding of "coronary blockages." The presence of a "blockage" does not always necessitate an intervention, especially in the absence of symptoms or specific characteristics. The preferred approach for treating ASYMPTOMATIC coronary disease is intensive medical therapy, and a healthy lifestyle and CAC score is just another tool in the box for the risk assessment. Ultimately, the decision between a CAC score and CTCA should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient's individual risk factors, needs, and the clinician's judgment.

This notion that some blockages can be managed with medical therapy and do not need intervention sounds risky. Given the risk is person having a heart attack and potentially dieing. This is one of those things where over diagnosing and over treatment will be perfectly fine with me 😊

@@Desihealthpk While the urge to over-diagnose and over-treat for 'peace of mind' is understandable, it's crucial to weigh the potentially severe and, at times, life-threatening risks associated with invasive procedures that are not uncommon in daily practice. Numerous studies have shown that for many patients with stable coronary disease, optimal medical therapy and risk management are just as effective as interventions in preventing heart attacks. What primarily prevents a heart attack is medical therapy and risk management, not just placing a stent, which addresses only one specific area in the coronary arteries and ignores the rest of the coronary anatomy. Stents are crucial when a severe blockage causes symptoms or is located in a critical area-situations where immediate intervention makes sense. However, for many people, managing the overall risk through medication and lifestyle changes is equally effective in preventing heart attacks without focusing on a single lesion.

The question I have is instead of having to be subjected to these invasive tests.... Yes the CT scan with contrast dye is very invasive plus the physicians prescribing these test nor the diagnostic centers or hospitals are doing the required (not suggested) testing of kidneys first! So they can see a little bit better… They were able to read the CT scans perfectly fine before so why should we subject our bodies to these harsh chemicals just so they can see better… ?!! I was searching on here for my father in law and personally I’d rather have the calcium scoring or an mri that any CT...even an ultrasound ! Too much radiation and very expensive diagnostic as well as invasive ! We have technologies that are so advanced they should be able to see it quite clearly and I’m not sure why it is not bright enough to be able to read it. Moreover with the med beds coming out once ‘disclosure’ happens… We won’t have to worry about anything and they already have technology to create organs that can be created from our own DNA of a 20 year old organ within minutes! there will be no harvesting and black market of organs that is happening in children as I speak. I’m certified in human trafficking so I know what’s going on and it is horrific and once people find out which will be soon people will be taking their lives back! Just like in the movie “avatar” we have med beds that are just sitting there waiting to be dispersed that the military is already using. Also since the ‘dark act’ was passed during the Clinton administration all these additives that are they are putting in our food so that they can hide easily because it’s not put in when it’s manufactured it’s added later so they can pop the label “no added ingredients” on the packaging… Further being deceptive and causing people to escalate into all kinds of sickness and diseases including leaky gut syndrome Crohn’s disease etc. this all constitutes high cost of medical bills, long waits for diagnostics in between follow up appointments as well as our gas and time, wear & tear on our vehicles and stress of not knowing and waiting on the interim. A famous cardiologist, Dr. Stephen Gundry can attest to all this and this is the reason why he now focuses on preventive health and quit his job as a famous cardiologist who even invented some of the technologies they use in heart transplants! He has ads all over yt & very informative infomercials! Smart man! If your like to know what’s going on and even what’s upcoming watch Dt. Michael Salla Of Exo Politics dote .org as well as his interviews on his channel with Insiders from the Army Special Forces who can attest to these “Med Beds” already manufactured that many of the military get to use as well as elitists who have kept this very advanced technologies hidden from us - all at our demise and their profit . TY for sharing this about the differences but honestly I’d rather not have to have any of these and just eat healthy and exercise and drink tea from Aryvedic Medicines that naturally clears plague from arteries one week per month ! Cinnamon, fr SH garlic, grated ginger root and lemon❣️ Enjoy the Journey 🤣🌈🚀🦋🌎💞🙏🏻👽🛸🥰 @MichaelSalla @DrGundry @JPjpJP1 @ElenaDanaan

Thank you

Million dollar question Also if done on 2 different scanners in 2 different hospitals then will the score be same?

You're welcome

Did you ever get an answer about your results. Best of luck to you.

@@dx398 my doctor said that the angiogram is more accurate and to go off of that. Not sure where the 240 came from but is alarming when you have 2 different numbers and apart by a lot.

The difference is significant and not normal. CAC scores should be pretty much the same: Whether you get a CAC scan or a CTCA, and they're done on the same machine, the calcium score you get should be about the same. The way these scores are figured out follows a set plan, so the numbers from both scans should match up closely. Small differences can happen: Things like how you're positioned, how well you hold your breath, or changes in your heart rate can make your CAC score vary a bit. These small changes usually don't make a big difference in figuring out your overall risk. Different places might give slightly different scores: If you get your scans at different radiology centers, you might see a little difference in your CAC scores. This can be because of the different CT scanners, how the scans are done, or the software they use. But these differences should be pretty small.

@@heartcaresydney thanks for the response! Where I got my CAC was at a place called boardwalk. I then went to Baylor to get my CTCA. They were 2 different machines. Any suggestions? Should I have my Dr re-review both scans? He’s adamant that the Angiogram (both my Cariologist and Physician) that I want to go off the Angiogram scores. They were taken 2-3wks apart

@@arthurmaldonado7019 Certainly, they need to be reviewed again.

No, please refer to my blog post for a comprehensive answer at: heartcare.sydney/what-is-coronary-artery-calcium-score-and-when-is-it-indicated

You should go for CTCA to see the blockages.If you have no symptoms then probably no blockages.Also go for exercise stress test before starting any exercise. When was your score of 1000 plus diagnosed?

A high CAC score like yours means you are at high risk and need perfect management of your risk factors and medical therapy. It does not necessarily mean you have "blockages," and by "blockages," we mean those that will limit the flow of blood (severe blockages). Study after study has shown that opening these blockages with a stent or surgery does not necessarily reduce the risk of a heart attack. However, what does reduce that risk is intensive medical therapy and lifestyle changes. With high numbers like yours, we usually recommend a "functional test" such as a stress echocardiogram. If your exercise tolerance is reasonable, at a good workload according to your age, and there is no evidence of severe ischemia on ECG or echocardiogram, then all you need are intensive lifestyle modifications (plenty of exercise and a healthy diet), weight loss, and medical therapy to control your risk factors (including statins and aspirin, if needed), as well as regular follow-ups with a specialist. SRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM: heartcare.sydney/stress-echocardiogram/ CORANY CALCIUM SCORE: heartcare.sydney/what-is-coronary-artery-calcium-score-and-when-is-it-indicated/

Yes, they are just CT scans, one with contrast and the other without. They are safe as long as you do not have allergies to contrast material.

Do you have any symptoms?

How are you doing now?

i had to get a stent@@Corkfish1

Hows your result on angiogram?

@@nomorenews i had %50 to %80 blockages needed to get a stent in 1 artery, i feel like a new man now