See your heart risk before it becomes a diagnosis
Calcium scoring, cardiac CT and cardiac MRI answer different questions about the heart, plaque burden, artery anatomy, muscle function and scar. We help route you to the right one.
- Coronary calcium scoringRISK
- Low-dose cardiac CTANATOMY
- Cardiac MRI function and scarTISSUE
- Reports to your physician24-48 HRS
Questions and conditions this imaging answers
Imaging does not replace your physician's evaluation, it gives them the detail needed to act with confidence.
Reasons patients come to us
- Family history of early heart disease
- Borderline cholesterol or statin decision
- Chest discomfort with exertion
- Known cardiomyopathy or prior heart attack
- Executive or preventive health assessment
What imaging can show
- Calcified plaque burden and a percentile risk score
- Coronary artery narrowing and anatomy
- Heart muscle thickness, motion and ejection fraction
- Scar and inflammation in the myocardium
- Aortic size and vascular anatomy
Which scan answers which question
Different questions call for different studies. Use this as a guide, then confirm the right exam with your physician or our scheduling team.
| Your question | Study most often used | Why that study |
|---|---|---|
| Do I have plaque building up? | Coronary calcium score CT | A fast, low-dose, non-contrast scan that quantifies calcified plaque and refines risk. |
| I have chest pain, are my arteries narrowed? | Coronary CT angiography | Contrast CT shows the coronary arteries directly and can rule out significant disease. |
| How well is my heart muscle working? | Cardiac MRI | The reference standard for chamber volumes, ejection fraction and wall motion. |
| Is there scar or inflammation in the muscle? | Cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement | Characterizes tissue in ways CT and echocardiography cannot. |
| I want a broad preventive look. | Calcium score within a preventive screening package | Combines cardiac risk with wider screening in a single self-pay visit. |
Final exam selection depends on your clinical history, prior imaging and insurance authorization.
Imaging supports, it does not replace, cardiology care
These studies inform decisions made with your physician. They are not a substitute for evaluation of acute symptoms.
- Chest pain at rest, shortness of breath or fainting is an emergency, call 911.
- A calcium score of zero lowers but does not eliminate risk, especially in younger patients.
- Contrast studies require a kidney function check for some patients.
Frequently asked questions
Does a calcium score require contrast?
No. It is a short, non-contrast, low-dose CT that typically takes only a few minutes on the table.
Is cardiac CT covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by plan and indication. Calcium scoring is often self-pay. Verify your insurance with us before scheduling.
What is the difference between cardiac CT and cardiac MRI?
CT excels at coronary artery anatomy and calcium; MRI excels at muscle function and tissue characterization such as scar.
Do I need a referral?
Insurance-covered cardiac studies require a physician order. Self-pay calcium scoring may not, call us to confirm.