Coronary Calcium Score (CAC)

Low-dose, non-contrast cardiac CT on a 128-slice Siemens Somatom goTop measuring calcium deposits in the coronary arteries with an Agatston score. Scan takes seconds; no contrast or fasting required. Self-pay approximately €249.

The coronary calcium score (Kalzium-Scoring or CAC score) at MVZ Radiologie-Netzwerk NRW is performed on a Siemens Somatom goTop 128-slice CT scanner with a rotation time of 0.33 seconds — hardware that allows very short ECG-triggered acquisitions, capturing the heart at minimal motion even in patients with elevated resting heart rate. No breath-hold is required beyond a brief single apnoea of a few seconds. The technique uses low-dose X-ray (no contrast injection) to detect and measure calcified plaques in the walls of the four main coronary vessels: left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, right coronary artery, and left main trunk. The resulting Agatston score quantifies total calcified plaque burden. A score of zero is strongly associated with very low near-term cardiovascular event risk, even in the presence of traditional risk factors. Higher scores (100–399: moderate risk; 400+: high risk) guide clinicians toward more aggressive preventive therapy. The calcium score is classified in Germany as a Selbstzahlerleistung — a preventive self-pay service not reimbursed by statutory health insurance (GKV), but potentially reimbursable by private insurance (PKV) with appropriate indication. Appropriate for adults aged 45+ with intermediate cardiovascular risk. Preparation is minimal: loose-fitting clothing and a 30-minute rest before the scan. The entire clinic visit lasts approximately 30 minutes. No physician referral required for self-pay patients. The Düsseldorf clinic is near Schadow-Arkaden, accessible by U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and bus.