calcium score

[bloob]

hi  i am a 35 yr old male.   i've been having atypical chest symptoms in that my heavy chest and squeezing isn't worse with exercise, but i've had lightheadedness,  some breathless feelings, and attacks of nausea, and reduced exercise tolerance.

my doctor got me a regular stress test (no nuclear)
a resting echo
and cholesterol

all tests normal

I was reading some things, and thought that maybe I can get a  cardiac CTA to "settle the score" once and for all  just to make darn sure it's not my heart...for my peace of mind and so on.

i find it would be much easier and cheaper to get just the calcium scoring than a full CTA
but i am concerned that if i am going to go through the dance, why not take the contrast too
and a little extra radiation,  to be very sure...
So, lets  say I go pay $100 bucks to get a calcium score, and the score is low, what then?  I could have soft plaque to worry about?  

I guess what I'm asking is, is the calcium score a suffient test if i want to put my mind at rest from most cardiac anomolies?  Or should I petition for a CTA?

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

Plaque is almost always due to the LDL component of the total cholesterol. personally, I think a CTA may not be warranted. A calcium score is extremely sensitive and represents total plaque burden. If your score is 0 it is helpful, if it's 100 then you may need more testing. I think it's a good idea

[bloob]

ie -  can soft plaque even be a factor with my cholesterol of 159?