Considerations in Calcium Scoring Using Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

Calcium scoring is a promising tool for acquiring insight in the amount of coronary calcium present in the coronary arteries. Using electron beam tomography in the past, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) nowadays, calcium scoring can be performed within minutes. However, MDCT offers a large scale of possibilities in data acquisition and reconstruction. In this article, a short overview is given on the influence of different parameters on the outcome of calcium scoring in terms of absolute score and variability. In a short study, the influence of two highly influencing parameters is investigated in more detail. The study shows that at higher heart rates the calcium score of high-density calcifications are increased. The opposite behaviour is observed for low-density calcifications. In addition, calcium scores are increased with the use of smaller slice thicknesses. Smaller thicknesses also influence the variability of calcium scoring, for thinner slices the variability is reduced. When assessing the outcome of a calcium score one has to take in to account what parameters were used during the CT scan for calcium scoring.