Hunterdon Radiological Associates, P.A. is dedicated to providing quality medical care by:
1. Being sensitive and responsive to the healthcare needs of the community
2. Protecting the privacy of the patient
3. Acting in a professional manner and maintaining the highest standards of personal integrity and ethics
4. Utilizing state of the art equipment and highly skilled professionals
Cardiac Scoring
Cardiac scoring is a new procedure that may also be referred to as "heart-scoring". It is a revolutionary, pain-free procedure requiring less than 10 minutes. This test offers the patient a chance to detect heart disease earlier than other non-invasive methods, long before symptoms occur.
This test determines cardiac risk by measuring the extent of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The scan actually gives you a "snapshot" of your arteries.
The images of the cardiac scoring scan are analyzed and the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries is scored. This "heartscore" is a direct indication of the level of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Studies have repeatedly shown a very strong correlation between this score and the risk of heart attack. Since nearly a third of all heart attack victims have no prior symptoms, the early warning potential for this exam is tremendous. No other non-invasive test can find heart disease this early
People that will benefit from cardiac scoring are individuals who meet the following guidelines: Men who are between the ages of 35-70, women between the ages of 45-70 years. Those who may benefit from this exam include people with the following risk factors: history of smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease or stroke, sedentary lifestyle, post-menopause (for women). Most patients with contraindications listed above can be scanned after explaining the limitations, and assuming there is still desire to be scanned. However, there are a few exclusions: patients that are under 30 years of age, patients that are pregnant and patients whose weight is over 450 pounds.
About The Exam Cardiac scoring is performed on a special type of high speed CT scanner that is integrated with an electrocardiograph (EKG). This equipment takes 70-90 images of your coronary arteries. There are no needles or dyes. The actual scan only takes approximately 35 seconds. The amount of calcium or plaque detected in your coronary arteries is used to establish your cardiac score.
When you arrive for this procedure, you will be asked to complete a brief risk factor questionnaire. Next, you lie down on the imaging table while the CT technologist places a few EKG leads on you. You will then be asked to hold your breath while the images are being taken. That's it! You can return to your regular routine.
Once the study is completed, a board-certified radiologist will interpret your films, and a written report detailing the findings of your study will be mailed directly to you within 48 hours.
Since most insurance companies do not yet cover cardiac scoring, you will need to bring some form of payment with you on the day of the exam. All exams must be paid in full. The cost for cardiac scoring is $350.00.
Patient Prep View this study's patient prep information. You will need to follow these guidelines before taking this exam
This test determines cardiac risk by measuring the extent of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The scan actually gives you a "snapshot" of your arteries. 
Patient Prep