Coronary artery calcium scoring: Its practicality and clinical utility in primary care

Parth Parikh; Nishant Shah; Haitham Ahmed; Paul Schoenhagen; Maan Fares

doi:10.3949/ccjm.85a.17097

ABSTRACT

Coronary artery calcium scoring is useful as a risk-stratification tool in coronary artery disease, and it outperforms other risk-assessment methods. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines give the test a IIB recommendation in clinical scenarios in which risk stratification is uncertain. However, if the test is not used in the appropriate clinical setting, misinterpretation of the results can lead to unnecessary cardiac testing. This review provides the primary care provider with basic knowledge about the test’s clinical utility, interpretation, risks, and limitations.

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Parth Parikh, MD

Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
Clinical Instructor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Nishant Shah, MD

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic

Haitham Ahmed, MD, MPH

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Paul Schoenhagen, MD

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Imaging Institute, and Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Maan Fares, MD⇑

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

ADDRESS:
Maan Fares, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, J2-4, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; faresm{at}ccf.org