Connect
← Return to CCTA after 1,000+ CAC score - warranted?
Discussion
CCTA after 1,000+ CAC score - warranted?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
My understanding is the CT-A is an angiogram - but non-invasive (except for the injection of the contrast dye). Otherwise I'd need two of the invasive types of angiograms (one for the LAD artery and another for the RCA artery). Also, apparently, carotid arteries can also calcify, and the CT CAC test doesn't measure them. They are the two that carry blood to your brain (e.g. if obstructed then you get a stroke). The CT Angiogram with dye might be able to observe narrowing spots of all of the above. Then I'd get the catheter to pinpoint areas for widening. I hope that makes some sense.
Replies to "My understanding is the CT-A is an angiogram - but non-invasive (except for the injection of..."
Connect
I definitely concur that anyone with high CAC should have their carotids checked. I did and there is stenosis but not enough to worry about yet. Also, the same mechanism that is clogging your coronary arteries can impact the arteries in your brain. I've had a couple of brain MRI's that show that I have chronic microvascular ischemia. You can visibly see areas where there has been ischemia and white matter disease, and lacunar strokes. If you have high CAC be on the lookout for neurological symptoms. The problems is that there is no treatment since they can't stent your brain like they can your coronary arteries. But the same things you do to manage your CAC can slow progression there as well.