Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 183-187, May 2008

How much calcium is too much calcium for coronary computerized tomographic angiography?

Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute, 130 E 77th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA

Received 9 April 2008; accepted 16 April 2008. published online 24 April 2008.

Abstract 

The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score above which it is recommended that coronary computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) not be performed has been steadily increasing. Currently, calcium scores > 1000 are thought to prohibit CTA accurate interpretation. However, a reasoned approach suggests that there is no absolute upper limit that applies to all patients and imaging centers. To anticipate the problems posed by calcium, a CAC scan must be obtained before CTA. Understanding the clinical goals of the CTA and the source and recognition of CAC-based imaging artifacts can enable accurate clinical CTA examinations even in the setting of high calcium scores.

Keywords: Artifacts, Coronary calcium, CTA

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 Conflict of interest: Dr. Hecht discloses that he received grant support and honoraria from Philips Medical Systems. Dr. Bhatti reports no conflicts of interest.

 The online version of this article contains supplementary data.

PII: S1934-5925(08)00122-6

doi:10.1016/j.jcct.2008.04.003

Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 183-187, May 2008

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