Cardiac Imaging

The Framingham Score: Calculating risk for coronary artery disease (CAD)

UCSF Radiologist Dr. Brett Elicker describes the Framingham Score, used to determine the risks of cardiovascular disease including heart attack.
 
 

Framingham Score

When is a coronary CTA appropriate?

UCSF Radiologist Dr. Brett Elicker describes when a coronary CT angiography (CTA) is appropriate.
 

Goal of coronary CTA

  • Cardiac catheterization equivalent 
  • Angiography
    • Invasive procedure
    • Gold standard
  • Coronary CTA
    • Non-invasive procedure
    • Negative test: highly accurate 

Calcium score vs. coronary CTA

UCSF Radiologist Dr. Brett Elicker explains the difference between calcium scoring and coronary CT angiography (CTA)
 
Densest thing seen is calcium on these scans. What you can tell is that is lots of atherosclerosis: hardening of the arteries which is high risk of developing problem. Looking at coronary calcium, not all atherosclerosis is calcified.  

 

 

Calcium scoring and CT angiography

UCSF Radiologist Dr. Brett Elicker describes how calcium scoring and CT angiography (CTA) work together to diagnose coronary artery disease.

CT for Coronary Artery Disease 

Coronary Calcium Screening

  • No contrast
  • Looks only for calcium
  • Doesn’t asses for blockage
  • Risk factor stratification

Coronary CT angiography

How well do CT scanners see into the heart?

UCSF Radiologist Dr. Brett Elicker explains how CT scanners are used to image the heart.
 

CT Imaging of the Heart