Imagine finding signs of heart disease risk years before symptoms show up, while there may still be time to change the outcome. One tool that can help in the right patient is called a coronary artery calcium scan, or CAC score. It is a quick CT scan of the heart that looks for calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Here is why doctors sometimes use it: 👉 It can show actual calcified plaque, not just estimated risk on paper. Cholesterol, blood pressure, and family history help estimate risk.