July 29, 2025

CT Scan for Coronary Artery Calcification Window

18 minutes

Guest: Thomas C. Gerber, M.D., Ph.D.

Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scanning can help improving our assessment of the risk of heart attack or stroke in thoughtfully selected patients. Not everyone needs a CAC scan! The results of a CAC scan can be particularly helpful in deciding whether a patient should start medications to reduce their risk. Coronary artery calcium scanning is *not* used to follow a patient’s risk over time (to see whether the risk is decreasing or increasing).

Topics Discussed:

How is a coronary artery calcification (CAC) scan done, and what can the results tell us about a patient’s cardiovascular risk and management?

Who should consider having a CAC scan? Should a patient discuss the possibility of a CAC scan with their doctor, and should they just self-refer to a screening center?

What changes can we make in patient management based on CAC scan findings?

How should we monitor whether the management is improving the patient’s cardiovascular risk? How often should a CAC scan be done?

Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.

LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services

Cardiovascular Education App:

The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today!

No CME credit offered for this episode.

Podcast episode transcript found here.

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By Mayo Clinic

4.5

2929 ratings

July 29, 2025

CT Scan for Coronary Artery Calcification Window

18 minutes

CT Scan for Coronary Artery Calcification Window

Guest: Thomas C. Gerber, M.D., Ph.D.

Host: Stephen L. Kopecky, M.D.

Topics Discussed:

How is a coronary artery calcification (CAC) scan done, and what can the results tell us about a patient’s cardiovascular risk and management?

Who should consider having a CAC scan? Should a patient discuss the possibility of a CAC scan with their doctor, and should they just self-refer to a screening center?

What changes can we make in patient management based on CAC scan findings?

How should we monitor whether the management is improving the patient’s cardiovascular risk? How often should a CAC scan be done?

Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices.

LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services

Cardiovascular Education App:

No CME credit offered for this episode.

Podcast episode transcript found here.

...more