Coronary Calcium Score

Low-dose, non-contrast CT scan that quantifies calcium deposits in the coronary arteries and converts the result into an Agatston score — one of the most powerful independent predictors of cardiovascular risk available.

The coronary calcium score (CCS) at Sanador Hospital is a brief, non-invasive scan performed on the Siemens CT Definition Edge 128-slice scanner without any contrast agent or preparation beyond avoiding strenuous activity beforehand. The examination typically takes under ten minutes and exposes the patient to a radiation dose comparable to that of a standard chest X-ray series. During the scan, the patient lies still on the CT table while the scanner sweeps the heart region, acquiring images timed to the cardiac cycle to freeze motion artefact. The resulting images reveal any calcium deposits within the walls of the coronary arteries — bright, dense foci that indicate the presence of atherosclerotic plaque that has hardened over years. The radiologist applies the Agatston scoring algorithm to each visible calcification, summing across all four coronary territories to produce a single total calcium score. The Agatston score has robust prognostic data behind it. A score of zero — no detectable calcification — is associated with a very low risk of cardiovascular events over the following ten years and has been shown in multiple large trials to allow safe de-escalation or deferral of statin therapy in borderline-risk patients. A score between 1 and 100 indicates mild subclinical atherosclerosis; 100–400 indicates moderate burden with meaningfully elevated event risk; scores above 400 signal extensive plaque load and typically warrant aggressive cardiovascular risk management alongside downstream investigation. Beyond its predictive value for future events, the calcium score improves on traditional risk calculators in several ways. It provides a direct biological measurement of arterial damage already present rather than a statistical estimate based on risk factors. This makes it particularly valuable in patients who fall into an intermediate risk category on traditional scoring systems and whose treatment decisions — statin therapy, aspirin, lifestyle modification — are genuinely uncertain. A calcium score often resolves that uncertainty cleanly. Sanador's 24/7 radiology department means the calcium score can be scheduled at any hour, and the hospital's location near Piața Victoriei in Sector 1 of Bucharest makes it accessible from central parts of the city and from major hotels catering to medical tourists. The calcium score is typically performed as the first stage of the combined coronary CT package (coronary angiography + calcium score), but is also available as a standalone test for patients who want cardiovascular risk assessment without the contrast-enhanced component. The combined calcium score and coronary angiography is published at €550 on the English-language Sanador website. The standalone calcium score price is not separately itemised on the pricing page but is included within the coronary CT package.