River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostic Center is the leading outpatient provider of imaging services in the greater Houston area. Your health, diagnosis and treatment are paramount to us. Throughout your examination, our goal is to provide a comfortable, yet professional atmosphere. Committed to providing the highest quality services, we offer the latest technology to ensure our team of board-certified radiologists produce accurate and timely information to assist your physician with properly identifying and treating your condition. Coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, claiming one person every 30 seconds. In many cases, it's first, last and only symptom is a fatal heart attack. Coronary artery disease, "the silent killer," is a slow, progressive process that can begin early in life and go unnoticed for years. Coronary artery disease, also known as atherosclerosis, occurs when the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart become clogged with plaque. The plaque build-up slows the flow of blood to the heart muscle causing impaired circulation and increases the chance of a fatal or non-fatal heart attack.

WHAT IS CT CARDIAC SCORING?

CT Cardiac Scoring is a simple, noninvasive test that can tell you whether or not you are developing coronary artery disease long before you experience any symptoms. That's extremely important because coronary artery disease can be treated and even reversed if you catch it in time.

HOW DOES CT CARDIAC SCORING WORK?

CT Cardiac Scoring utilizes computed tomography (CT) technology, which is a simple and safe examination that creates across-sectional image of a specific anatomical part of the body. In this case, the body part being scanned is the heart. You will be required to hold a single breath, as a beam of x-rays records the quantity of calcium in the coronary arteries. The computer constructs an image based on the data and converts the amount of calcium into a score. High scores are extremely predictive of coronary artery disease.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

The following are primary factors for increased risk of coronary artery disease:

Family History of Heart Disease
High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Overweight
Sedentary lifestyle
Age: men over 45, women over 55

If you have one or more of these factors you may be at an increased risk of heart disease. A CT cardiac scoring exam should be scheduled to detect the presence of coronary artery calcification which may indicate significant narrowing at the origin of the coronary artery.

CT CARDIAC SCORINGPREPARATIONS:

If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are breast-feeding; please inform your physician and our staff before your exam. We request that you arrive thirty minutes prior to you scheduled procedure time to complete paperwork and to change clothesif necessary.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE EXAM?

Please wear loose-fitting clothes without zippers or snaps; metal objects create artifacts on the images. You may be requested to change into a clinic gown.
You will be asked to lie on a table that is connected to the CT scanner. The area of interest, the heart, will be positioned in the middle of a large, doughnut-shaped scanner ring or gantry. The gantry is not enclosed; thus claustrophobia usually is not an issue.
Please pay close attention to the instructions given and refrain from any unnecessary movement. You will be required to hold a single breath for 10seconds. Body shifts may cause the images to blur, thus causing portions of the exam to be repeated.
The table will be moving in small increments. You will feel this slight movement and hear a low noise. The noise is due to the gantry rotating around you and is perfectly normal.

HOW LONG WILL THE EXAM TAKE?

The length of the examination will be approximately fifteen minutes. Your cooperation will expedite the exam process.

CT CARDIAC SCORING RESULTS

Once your exam is complete, a physician will evaluate the amount/degree of calcification. The extent of calcification may indicate the need for further or specific cardiac testing to be performed by a cardiologist.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

Should you have any questions about your ability to participate in this examination, or if you wish to know more about CT Cardiac Scoring, consult your physician or contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.

River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostic is geographically accessible with multiple locations. All facilities offer convenient, extended hours. Please call our scheduling department at (713) 512-6040 to determine which facility will best serve you. We look forward to a partnership with you and your physician, which will promote your health.