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Moderate Calcified Coronary Atherosclerosis (CAC
score 101-400)
Our Cardiology Panel Report for Patients
and Physicians
Electron Beam (Ultrafast) CT examination of
the entire coronary system detected moderate calcified plaque "burden" at
this time.
A score of this magnitude indicates moderate
calcified atherosclerosis. Areas of moderate non-obstructive coronary
narrowing are likely to be present. Moderate calcification has greater
significance in younger patients (less than 50) or if calcification is seen
in two or more vessels. In the patient at the higher CAC scores, these
lesions can also occasionally represent "significant" fixed obstruction to
blood flow in the coronary system. The overall risk of future cardiovascular
events is moderately high, but can usually be lowered substantially by
directed therapy.
Moderate scores generally warrant a clinical
(physician advice and treatment) approach to coronary risk reduction in
addition to routine public health recommendations (diet, exercise, etc.). In
addition, it is probable that the process of atherosclerosis is developing
considerably earlier or faster than is desirable and may warrant a more
vigorous strategy of risk factor modification. In some cases, a physicians
goal for cholesterol lowering and plaque stabilizing may be similar in
aggressiveness to that recommended for patients with a history of previous
heart disease (i.e., secondary prevention with a target goal of an LDL below
100). Daily aspirin is recommended if tolerated and antioxidants may also be
of benefit. Of course, decisions about therapy should be left up to your
physician, who will use EBCT scores along with other available information.
We believe the Premiere Micronutrient Corp. medium risk (MR) is generally
beneficial (please contact our staff).
Your physician may decide to perform
exercise treadmill testing for exercise prescription or further risk
stratification. In some cases, with scores in the upper ranges or higher
than 75% of age and sex matched peers, "stress" imaging may even be
recommended in order to evaluate for hidden vessel obstruction (occult
ischemia).
If conventional risk factors cannot by
themselves account for the amount of plaque that has developed, your
physician may decide to consider further risk factor evaluation (e.g.,
sophisticated lipoprotein blood analysis) to help explain the findings.
Always remember that any chest or
cardiorespiratory systems (including chest pain or discomfort, shortness of
breath, etc.) may be serious and deserves clinical evaluation by a
physician, regardless of EBCT scores.
Front Range Preventive Imaging is a coronary
artery disease risk assessment testing facility only and cannot substitute
for a careful examination by a physician. All recommendations from our
center are suggestions based solely upon information supplied by the
conventional risk factor questionnaire and by EBCT scan results. The
patient's own physician is best able to make definitive therapeutic
decisions based upon careful history, physical, this report and other
testing, if necessary.
