What Does the Coronary Calcium Scan Show?

After the coronary calcium scan, you will get a calcium score called an Agatston score. The score is based on the amount of calcium found in your coronary arteries. You may get an Agatston score for each major artery and a total score.

The test is negative if no sign of calcium deposits (calcifications) is found in your arteries. This means your chance of having a heart attack in the next 2 to 5 years is low.

The test is positive if calcifications are found in your arteries. Calcifications are a sign of atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis) and coronary artery disease. (Atherosclerosis is when the arteries harden and narrow due to plaque buildup.) The higher your Agatston score, the greater the amount of atherosclerosis.

Use this calculator (from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) to see whether your score is high. If it is, your doctor may prescribe medicines or order more tests.