Radiol Clin North Am. 2026 May;64(3):591-603. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2026.01.009. Epub 2026 Feb 20.
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Coronary artery calcium score improves risk stratification and helps determine eligibility for statin therapy. With the introduction of the 2021 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association chest pain guideline, coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is being performed more frequently as an initial method of imaging in symptomatic individuals. As a noninvasive imaging modality, CCTA can detect and classify high-risk noncalcified plaques and identify both obstructive and nonobstructive diseases even in asymptomatic individuals, which has the potential to personalize preventive therapies and help prevent future cardiovascular events.