Max Heart Health / Beverly Hills
Coronary CT Angiography & Calcium Scoring
Cardiac CT shows your coronary arteries, the vessels that supply the heart muscle, without a catheter. Dr. Daniel Yazdi is board certified in Cardiac CT Angiography. He helps you decide whether a scan makes sense, refers you to an outside imaging center when it does, and reviews the results with you in the context of your care.
01 / CT & calcium scoring
Two different tests
Coronary calcium score (CAC)
- What it is
- A non-contrast CT scan
- What it shows
- Calcified plaque, reported as a score
- Typically used for
- Refining risk in people without symptoms
Coronary CT angiography (CCTA)
- What it is
- A CT scan with IV contrast
- What it shows
- Calcified and non-calcified plaque, plus any narrowing
- Typically used for
- Evaluating chest pain or other symptoms, or a more detailed look at plaque when appropriate
02 / CT & calcium scoring
Deciding whether to scan
- Calcium score: may help refine risk when prevention decisions are uncertain.
- CT angiography: may provide a more detailed picture of coronary plaque when appropriate.
Not everyone needs a scan. CT involves radiation, and CCTA requires contrast, so Dr. Yazdi recommends imaging only when the result is likely to change your care.
03 / CT & calcium scoring
How it works
- Evaluation. Dr. Yazdi reviews your history, risk factors and any prior testing, then decides with you whether a CT is appropriate and which one.
- The scan. If it is, he refers you to an outside imaging center for the scan.
- Results review. You go over the report with Dr. Yazdi, who puts it in the context of your overall risk.
04 / CT & calcium scoring
Understanding your result
A score of zero is generally reassuring in the near term for many people, though it doesn't rule out all plaque. Higher scores indicate more plaque and higher risk, and usually mean a more intensive plan for cholesterol and blood pressure. Results always need context.
05 / CT & calcium scoring
After the scan
Results can inform cholesterol targets, medication decisions and lifestyle changes. In-office tests such as echocardiography or stress testing may also be part of the picture.
06 / CT & calcium scoring
Common questions
Do you do the CT scan in your office? No. Scans are performed at outside imaging centers. Dr. Yazdi helps decide whether a scan is appropriate, arranges the referral and reviews the results with you.
Is a calcium score of zero "all clear"? It generally means low near-term risk, but it doesn't measure soft plaque, and other risk factors still matter.