Coronary Calcium Score

Quick, non-invasive CT scan without contrast agent to quantify calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. Provides an independent cardiovascular risk score used to guide preventive treatment decisions.

The coronary calcium score at DIE RADIOLOGIE is a focused, non-contrast CT scan that measures the extent of calcification in the coronary arteries. Calcium deposits in the arterial walls are a direct marker of atherosclerosis, and the resulting score — typically reported using the Agatston method — is one of the strongest independent predictors of future cardiovascular events. The scan requires no contrast agent and takes only a few seconds of acquisition time. Because it uses low-dose CT protocols, the radiation exposure is minimal. The result is a numerical score: zero indicates no detectable calcification and very low short-term risk, while progressively higher scores indicate increasing plaque burden and correspondingly elevated risk of heart attack or stroke. At DIE RADIOLOGIE, calcium scoring is available as the first stage of a full cardiac CT examination or can be performed as a standalone preventive screening test. The service is offered at four Munich locations equipped for cardiac imaging: München Zentrum, ISAR Klinikum, Arabellapark, and Praxis am Schäfflerhof. The cardiac imaging team, led by Dr. Patrick Hein, holds centre-of-excellence certification from the German Radiological Society. Calcium scoring is particularly relevant for individuals aged 40 to 70 with intermediate cardiovascular risk — those where the score can meaningfully shift the decision about whether to initiate statin therapy or intensify lifestyle modification. No fasting is required; caffeine and nicotine should be avoided for 24 hours beforehand to ensure a stable heart rate during scanning.