Coronary Calcium Score (CAC)

Non-contrast CT to measure coronary artery calcification and quantify cardiovascular risk. 64,000 HUF (≈€160). No contrast, no referral needed, fast results.

The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score at Buda Health Center quantifies the total burden of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries using a dedicated non-contrast CT scan. The Agatston scoring method produces a standardised numerical result — a CAC score of zero indicates no detectable calcification and carries a very low 10-year cardiovascular event risk, while scores above 400 reflect extensive calcification and a substantially elevated risk of heart attack. At 64,000 HUF (approximately €160), the calcium score is a cost-effective, non-invasive cardiovascular risk stratification tool. The examination takes only 5–10 minutes in the scanner, requires no intravenous contrast agent, and typically no physician referral. It has particular value for patients in intermediate cardiovascular risk categories — those where standard risk calculators based on age, cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking status leave genuine clinical uncertainty — because the measured coronary calcium burden directly reflects arterial atherosclerotic disease that has already developed, not merely risk factors that predict it. European Society of Cardiology guidelines support CAC scoring as an optional test to reclassify patients and inform treatment decisions for primary prevention, particularly around statin therapy initiation and aspirin use. Patients with a zero score — which includes a substantial proportion of asymptomatic middle-aged adults — may be able to defer pharmaceutical intervention and focus on lifestyle modification. Patients with elevated scores, especially above 100, benefit from more intensive preventive treatment and closer clinical follow-up. The examination is performed on the same multi-slice CT scanner used for all imaging at Buda Health Center. ECG gating is used to synchronise acquisition with the cardiac cycle for clear coronary images. The report is prepared by a board-certified radiologist and delivered in written form, including the total Agatston score and per-vessel analysis. Results are typically available within a few working days. CD copies of imaging data can be purchased at 1,500 HUF. Coronary CT angiography (177,000 HUF) is available as a complementary or follow-up investigation when anatomical coronary assessment is required.