Cardiac Scoring
Available at Pennsylvania Hospital
July / August 2003
Cardiac scoring, a new high-tech radiologic imaging test,
is now available at Pennsylvania Hospital. The test utilizes
a high-speed computed tomography scanner to obtain cross-sectional
images of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It
allows cardiac radiologists to identify deposits of calcium
in the walls of the coronary arteries. These deposits are
measured and “scored” by comparing the patients’
results to others of the same age and gender.
This score helps
physicians identify conditions associated with an increased
risk of heart disease and plan an individualized cardiac
risk-reduction program. The best candidates are men and
women over age 40,
especially those with a family history of early heart disease,
or those with other cardiac risk factors. To schedule
an appointment
for your patient or for more information, call PENNHealth
at 1-800-789-PENN.
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