Heart Scan Results

[GaMan]

I'm a 52 year old who recently had a heart scan calcium score of 80.1 (all in LAD; 0 in other arteries). A scan 6 years ago showed some slight calcium in same area and score was 30 with 0 in other arteries. The recent results also indicate some calcified lymph nodes in left hilum, with calcified granuloma in spleen consistent with old granulomatous disease. I used to have borderline BP and maybe up to 130 low density cholesterol but have had both under control for the last 5-6 years taking low dose lisinopril and simvastatin (120/80; <100 low density; low tryglycerides). Also take 81 mg aspirin a day and get plenty of cardio exercise.

Questions:

1. Cardiologist said calcium was down on LAD and wasn't widowmaker location but I've heard the LAD is that artery. Is the left coronary or LAD the widowmaker?

2. I've felt terrible for 25-30 years from some type of inflammation. Symptoms mainly forehead pressure, concentration issues, etc. Is there any type of immune type inflammatory type disease that I could be dealing with to make me feel this way and be categorized as a granulomatous disease?  

Any help appreciated.

[GaMan]

You are correct ed34. Here are the results:

Technique: Non-contrast prospective ECG-gated CT of the heart was
performed with Multi-row detector CT during suspended respiration.
Coronary calcium Score (Agatston) was measured on a 3-D computer
workstation.
Findings:
Coronary Arteries:
Calcium: present
Artery Score
Left Main: 0
LAD: 80.1
Circumflex: 0
RCA: 0

[ed34]

It wouldn't be an echo, that can't see the calcium in artery walls. It would have been a computed tomography (CT) form of scan.

[Jerry_NJ]

What is a "heart scan"??  Is that another name for an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to examine physical size and functioning of the heart and its valves?

Sorry I can't help, ed34 seems to have a "handle" on your post, so I am reading more for education than help, but I wish you happy answers, and suggest more discussion with your doctor(s)...where I usually assume when the doctor isn't concerned about something in a report, it isn't important.

[ed34]

1 No. Although just a name sometimes used, the widowmaker is the left main stem. This is the vessel which comes from the Aorta to the bifurcation, where it splits into the LAD and Left Circumflex arteries. If your LAD blocked then you would have a fair chance of surviving. Same goes for the Circumflex. If the left main stem (or sometimes called the left main artery) is blocked, then both the circumflex AND LAD will be without blood and this will almost certainly cause death.

2 Blood tests are required to see if there is any response going on.