Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score

A Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score is a specialized, non-invasive imaging test that uses a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan to measure the amount of calcified plaque in the heart's arteries. Unlike a standard CT, this scan is specifically 'gated' to the heart's rhythm to ensure clear images of the coronary vessels. It is a powerful tool for identifying subclinical atherosclerosis—heart disease that has begun to develop but hasn't yet caused symptoms like chest pain or a heart attack. The test results are typically expressed as an Agatston score, which provides a quantitative estimate of a person's total burden of coronary artery disease.