Agatston Score
Encyclopedia
The Agatston Score, named after Arthur Agatston
, is a measure of calcium generally included in the results from a CT Test for Coronary Calcification.
The Agatston score is derived from the work of Drs. Agatston and Janowitz of the University of Miami School of Medicine and dates back into the 1980s. The original work was based on Electron Beam computed tomography
(also known as Ultrafast CT or EBCT). The score is calculated using a weighted value assigned to the highest density of calcification in a given coronary artery. The density is measured in Hounsfield units
, and score of 1 for 130-199 HU, 2 for 200-299 HU, 3 for 300-399 HU, and 4 for 400 HU and greater. This weighted score is then multiplied by the area (in pixels) of the coronary calcification. For example, a "speck" of coronary calcification in the left anterior descending artery measures 4 pixels and has a peak density of 270 HU. The score is therefore 8 (4 pixels x weigted score of 2). The tomographic slices of the heart are 3 millimeters thick and average about 50-60 slices from the coronary artery ostia to the inferior wall of the heart. The calcium score of every calcification in each coronary artery for all of the tomographic slices is then summed up to give the total coronary artery calcium score (CAC score).
Recent refinement of calcium scoring has been introduced to harness further information related to coronary plaque. This Lesion Specific Calcium Scoring Method
has been shown to be superior to the Agatston Score
Arthur Agatston
Arthur Agatston is an American cardiologist best known as the developer of the South Beach Diet, but also the author of many published scholarly papers in the field of noninvasive cardiac diagnostics...
, is a measure of calcium generally included in the results from a CT Test for Coronary Calcification.
The Agatston score is derived from the work of Drs. Agatston and Janowitz of the University of Miami School of Medicine and dates back into the 1980s. The original work was based on Electron Beam computed tomography
Electron beam tomography
Electron beam tomography , now owned by the General Electric company , is a specific form of computed tomography in which the X-ray tube is not mechanically spun in order to rotate the source of X-ray photons...
(also known as Ultrafast CT or EBCT). The score is calculated using a weighted value assigned to the highest density of calcification in a given coronary artery. The density is measured in Hounsfield units
Hounsfield scale
The Hounsfield scale, named after Sir Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield, is a quantitative scale for describing radiodensity.-Definition:The Hounsfield unit scale is a linear transformation of the original linear attenuation coefficient measurement into one in which the radiodensity of distilled water at...
, and score of 1 for 130-199 HU, 2 for 200-299 HU, 3 for 300-399 HU, and 4 for 400 HU and greater. This weighted score is then multiplied by the area (in pixels) of the coronary calcification. For example, a "speck" of coronary calcification in the left anterior descending artery measures 4 pixels and has a peak density of 270 HU. The score is therefore 8 (4 pixels x weigted score of 2). The tomographic slices of the heart are 3 millimeters thick and average about 50-60 slices from the coronary artery ostia to the inferior wall of the heart. The calcium score of every calcification in each coronary artery for all of the tomographic slices is then summed up to give the total coronary artery calcium score (CAC score).
Recent refinement of calcium scoring has been introduced to harness further information related to coronary plaque. This Lesion Specific Calcium Scoring Method
Lesion Specific Calcium Score
The Lesion-Specific Calcium Score is a method of calcium measurement that results from a CT Test for Coronary Artery Calcification.-Background:...
has been shown to be superior to the Agatston Score