Figure 3.

CAC score in a 65-year-old white male. A: Calcified plaques in the anterior descending artery, in addition to others (not shown) in the other coronary arteries. CAC score = 285 (Agatston method), consistent with moderate coronary calcification, indicating moderate cardiovascular risk. B: However, if the CAC score adjusted for age, gender, and ethnicity is used, according to the MESA, the calcium score should be considered discrete, indicating a low cardiovascular risk because it is below the 75th percentile for this group. C: If this same CAC score (Agatston 285) had been found in a woman of the same age and ethnicity, her adjusted score would be considered pronounced, indicating marked cardiovascular risk (above the 90th percentile).