Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score

Non-contrast cardiac CT to quantify coronary artery calcification using the Agatston scoring method. Evidence from a 14,000-patient retrospective study shows calcium scoring predicts individual heart attack risk more precisely than cholesterol, blood pressure, or body weight alone. A score of zero effectively excludes significant near-term cardiac risk. Scores above 100 or 400 indicate progressive benefit from preventive statin therapy. No contrast injection. Q1-certified cardiac CT specialist on team.

The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score quantifies atherosclerotic plaque calcification in the coronary arteries using a brief non-contrast cardiac CT scan. The resulting Agatston score is one of the most validated independent predictors of future major adverse cardiovascular events available through non-invasive imaging. At Institut für Bilddiagnostik, the CAC examination is performed by or under the supervision of Dr. med. Philip Hohmann, who holds the Q1 certification in cardiac computed tomography from the German Radiological Society — a qualification requiring documented case volume and examination of expertise in cardiac CT interpretation. The scan uses ECG-gating to synchronise image acquisition to the cardiac cycle, minimising motion artefact in the coronary vessels. No contrast injection is required. The total scan time is a few seconds, with the full appointment including preparation taking approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Institut für Bilddiagnostik cites a 14,000-patient retrospective study demonstrating that individuals with a calcium score above zero derive significant benefit from preventive statin therapy: those with scores above 100 showed a 68% reduction in cardiac event risk with statins, and those above 400 showed a 44% reduction. Conversely, individuals with a score of zero gained no measurable benefit from statins in this analysis — providing evidence-based guidance for or against preventive medical treatment. The report provides the raw Agatston score, age- and sex-matched percentile ranking, and a clinical interpretation with next-step recommendations. Patients with elevated scores may be referred to a cardiologist for further evaluation or preventive treatment optimisation.