St. Mary’s “Heart Scan”
The St. Mary’s “Heart Scan” (also known as coronary calcium scoring) is a CT scan of your heart that is used to check for the buildup of calcium on the walls of the arteries of the heart. Calcium is a marker of coronary artery disease (CAD). This screening tool is used to identify heart disease in an early stage. Calcium scoring is the most effective non-invasive method currently available to identify the presence of early coronary artery disease.
The goal of cardiac CT is to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) at an early stage in individuals who do not yet have any symptoms, but are at risk for the disease.
Risk factors
Age
A family history of heart disease
Disease or a family history of diabetes
High blood pressure
Cigarette smoking
Being overweight or obese
Being physically inactive
What to expect
This screening test does not require a physician’s order.
No IV’s or needles,
Does not require you to be fasting.
Complete test takes about 15 minutes.
A radiologist will analyze your images and provide a report to you and your physician.
Will my insurance cover the test?
CT as a cardiac assessment screening tool may not be covered by your insurance.
Cost
St. Mary’s is offering this test at the reduced rate of $99.00 (plus you will be billed $25 for the radiologist to read your report).
For more information, contact the St. Mary's Early Detection Center at (865) 545-7393.
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