ABSTRACT
Imaging of coronary arteries has been a major focus of clinicians interested in cardiovascular disease for a long time. Coronary calcification is an active process and the development of coronary artery calcification is intimately associated with the development of coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The calcium score can be calculated per coronary segment, per coronary vessel, or for the entire coronary tree. The prevalence and extent of coronary calcium vary widely from no calcium to a medium or large amount of calcium. Computed tomography (CT) calcium quantification can be used for the assessment of long-term risk and primary prevention of future adverse coronary events. The assessment of coronary calcium scoring in asymptomatic individuals, in order to be useful must be able to improve the prediction of the risk of coronary events, as established with known risk factors. The greater is the amount of calcium, the greater is the likelihood of a significant coronary obstruction, which however, is not siting specific.
