For those looking up the CT Calcium issues: I always like to look up these things, helps find things I should or should not consider. While I normally don’t encourage blanket trusting of internet things, I found this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAEW93_HlAo); the guy seems to know what he’s talking about and offers both pros and cons (always a good sign) regarding reasons to get a CT Calcium score. If you’re considering getting it done, you may want to watch, listen, evaluate and decide whether it’s a good fit for you IF your reason is concern about a potential heart attack. Note: I’m not a doc, have no training, I’m like most of you, concerned about what tests are worthwhile; please, talk with your doc, get the facts, and make your own decision.
Thanks @tomh for this reference. My doctor did approve me for one of these on the basis of being a Type 1 diabetic. As a quick dive into the internet wormhole shows, there’s lots of discussion about the value of this test on its own. From my very cursory look at the youtube discussion, it seems like this is a great test if you are in some kind of pain / heart trouble and none of the other tests show any issue.
If you’re not feeling heart-limited, a high plaque result on this test may not be a signal for blockage, and a low plaque result may not be a signal that all is okay (because there is hard and soft plaque).
So complicated….
Does anyone know if the test is invasive? Is it done with some kind of xray equipment?
Thanks,
e
I’ll be in the clinic getting the scan Monday AM, will let you know. I’ve been told it’s non invasive but will have to wear a hospital gown for the scan.
@bostrav59 From the quick research I did, it appears to be a standard CT without contrast, so would be considered non-invasive. It’s supposed to be pretty quick, with more time taken preparing than doing.
I’ve done this test three times now. It’s non-invasive and takes < 15 minutes. It’s a CT scan.
Yep, non-invasive. Since insurance normally doesn’t cover, it usually has a reasonable price for out of pocket. Mine was ~ $100 4 years ago.
I had a CT scan this morning. No fasting required. They require no caffeine or nicotine before the scan. I went in with a post breakfast BG of 120.
Totally non invasive total duration of appointment was about 10 minutes plus 10 minutes in waiting room. I left all my clothes on including my shoes and shirt and 4 electrodes were placed on my chest area, reaching under the shirt. Left my Dexcom sensor and pod on my upper left arm. Emptied my pockets.
Quick and easy, laying on your back with your chest inside a fairly wide scanning x-ray tube that allows enough room to put your arms above your head for the scan. Zero claustrophobic feel to it.
I did mine at an imaging center inside a moderately sized urban hospital. They had multiple scanners and a steady stream of patients. My appointment was procured with about 2 weeks lead time, easier than scheduling most medical appointments. It looks like scanning and imaging is big business.
EDIT ADDED 12/9/25: Got the CT Scan results via “MyChart” about 8 hours later…zero calcium which is what we were hoping to see.
“It looks like scanning and imaging is big business.”
Chuckle! Exactly!!
CherylRae
CT and MRI have pretty much a $0/use cost; the costs are fixed regardless of how much or how little the scanner is used.
The costs are also significant, maybe $50,000 for a used model to $2,000,000 for a new one (the first figure from a web site trying to sell me a CT scanner, the second from the Google hot air balloon). Then a cost for training of operators; a significant and high risk cost ('cause once they are trained 
and per-year maintenance.
So the more you use it the less the cost, to the provider, per scan. A simple, direct, inverse proportion.
CT and MRI could be very useful for a lot of people but when they get oversold; the docs get told how much money they can make by buying this single piece of equipment for half a PowerBall and how much money they can make…
If you are out there listening and have “used CT operator” or (better) “used MRI operator” on your resume go out and sell yourself; it’s big business for all the golfers so let us make it our own, too.
Ct scans also aren’t also handed out Willy nilly. I sat in an emergency room in excruciating pain for hours until my kidney function labs came back (with a ruptured appendix) before they’d do the ct scan due to their potential risks. If you read up on them, ct scans are not “preventative medicine” and should be considered “emergency medicine” instead
Which is higher risk, dental x-ray or ct scan? I routinely have to tell my dentist “No, I do not want an x-ray.” They like to do a suite of x-rays once a year snd I’m guessing most patients just go ahead and get them done. I think a CT scan once in a lifetime is lower risk than routine dental x-rays. .
No, that’s not right. CT scan for CAC is much higher radiation exposure (1 to 5 msv) than dental X-rays (.005 msv). And the radiation exposure from that CT scan can vary widely depending on the machine. I asked for an apoB blood test instead of considering CT scan for just that reason. I don’t remember the results, but it was low enough that my dr no longer advocated for statin use.
If I decide to get a CAC done in the future, I would check on the radiation exposure from the place doing the test (it can vary from 1 to 5 msv).
Seems like another go-to for the medical profession. My endo said there was this really great test for cardio-vascular disease risk while he was trying to sign my up for statins, so I said, “Whatever.” (My wife was not being particularly supportive at that moment.)
My insurance company deferred. The test would not be paid for unless I had a well recorded evidence of CHD. They still said, at the lab, that I could do it and they would do me a deal; yet another car salesperson. Mucho Maas; sometimes that’s how I feel.