Title:Coronary Calcium Risk Score and Cardiovascular Risk
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Angelica Lehker and Debabrata Mukherjee*
Affiliation:
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas 79905,United States
Keywords:
Coronary artery calcium, coronary artery disease, computerized tomography, agatston score, statin therapy, CT scanners.
Abstract: The association between the presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and the risk of coronary
artery disease (CAD) has been appreciated for decades. In this review, we critically appraise the
role of CAC based on computerized tomography in contemporary risk stratification. Available evidence
suggests that the measurement of CAC is a useful modality in many patients for more precise risk stratification
and prognostic determination. Whether newer CAC score incorporating extra coronary calcification
will add incremental value, especially for stroke and other non-coronary vascular outcomes,
needs a prospective study.