Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions about CVQuant

CVQuant’s Advanced Coronary Plaque Analysis is a service that uses cutting-edge AI modeling combined with expert cardiology interpretation to analyze data from a heart CT scan. The goal is to provide an accurate, comprehensive assessment of all plaque types—both calcified (hard) and non-calcified (soft)—to catch early signs of heart disease when it matters most.
Arterial plaque can lead to two major threats:

Artery Narrowing: Plaque buildup restricts the flow of oxygen-rich blood, which can cause symptoms like angina (chest pain).

Plaque Rupture: Soft, vulnerable plaque can rupture, leading the body to form a blood clot (thrombus). This clot can rapidly block the artery, causing a heart attack. Early detection empowers patients and providers to start proactive management.

Technology and Scans

CVQuant analyzes plaque long before it may appear on a standard CAC scan, providing a more complete picture of your heart health risk.
The CVQuant analysis is performed on data from a Contrasted CT Angiogram (CCTA). This scan uses an iodine dye injection to visualize all plaque in the coronary arteries.

Getting the CVQuant Analysis

The process involves a few steps, which you should coordinate with your doctor:

Ask your doctor if a contrasted CT Angiogram (CCTA) is right for you.

Notify your CT imaging center that you would like CVQuant's Plaque Analysis performed on your scan.

If your imaging center does not currently participate, you can contact CVQuant for assistance in arranging the service.
A report of your plaque analysis will be uploaded to your medical imaging records. You should then bring this report to your provider for a discussion on your next steps and proactive management options.

The Disease and Need for Early Detection

Atherosclerosis is the pathological basis of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). It is characterized by the accumulation of lipids, cholesterol, and progressive chronic inflammation of plaques within the large arteries. This buildup, known as plaque, narrows and hardens the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. CAD is the most common type of heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. More than 50% of individuals who suffer or die from a heart attack experience no symptoms before the event. Since the progression is often silent, conventional assessment methods often classify up to 70% of heart attack victims as "low-risk". The trick about atherosclerosis is that the earlier it is, the easier it is to control with therapies and lifestyle modifications. Early detection allows for timely intervention and risk factor modification, potentially preventing adverse cardiac events.
Risk factors are broadly divided into non-modifiable and modifiable factors:

Non-Modifiable: Age, gender, genetics, and family history of CAD.

Modifiable (can be managed by lifestyle changes or treatment): High cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity.

Smoking is specifically noted as a powerful independent risk factor that can directly induce endothelial damage and potentiate inflammatory response.
Traditional risk factors are primarily indirect markers of heart disease rather than a measurement of the disease itself. Even if a population group has higher cholesterol levels, it is impossible to determine which individual within that group has heart disease and which one does not.

The Myocardial Infarction Paradox highlights this issue, as nearly half of all heart attacks occur in patients deemed "low risk" by traditional risk assessment tools.

The strongest predictor of future cardiac events is the amount and type of plaque in the arteries, not solely serum cholesterol levels. Furthermore, 40% of cardiovascular disease risk could not be explained or addressed by conventional risk factors.

AI-Enhanced CCTA and Plaque Quantification

A CCTA is a non-invasive imaging test that involves a three-dimensional X-ray. Unlike the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score, CCTA uses a contrast agent (injection of contrast) to light up the inside of the arteries. CCTA is widely recommended for evaluating suspected heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. More than 50% of individuals who suffer or die from a heart attack experience no symptoms before the event. Since the progression is often silent, conventional assessment methods often classify up to 70% of heart attack victims as "low-risk". The trick about atherosclerosis is that the earlier it is, the easier it is to control with therapies and lifestyle modifications. Early detection allows for timely intervention and risk factor modification, potentially preventing adverse cardiac events.
Plaque characterization is the process of precisely quantifying and categorizing the different types of plaque within the coronary arteries. This is achieved using AI algorithms.

The ability to identify the amount and type of plaque is considered the strongest predictor of future cardiac events.

Plaque Types and Vulnerability

Plaques can be broadly categorized based on their composition and risk profile:

Calcified Plaque (Hardened): These are essentially pieces of calcium or "rocks". They are generally considered stable and safe and may even protect against heart attacks. The body converts non-calcified plaque into calcified plaque as part of a stabilization process.

Non-Calcified Plaque: This is often referred to as "fresher soft plaque". A subset of this non-calcified plaque, often called high-risk soft plaque (or Lipid Rich Necrotic Core/Low Attenuation Plaque), is unstable and prone to rupture, making it the strongest predictor of heart attack risk.

Treatment and Prevention

AI-CCTA moves care from symptom-based diagnosis to a disease-focused approach. It provides quantitative data that empowers physicians to personalize treatment:

Tailoring Therapy: The analysis helps determine the appropriate therapeutic strategy based on the patient’s unique plaque composition. This supports clinical decisions such as deciding between intervention versus drug therapy.

Plaque Stabilization: A primary goal of treatment is to stabilize high-risk soft plaques. Higher-risk, soft plaques can be transformed into hardened, stable plaques with effective medical therapy and lifestyle changes.

Tracking Success: The quantitative measurements (e.g., total plaque volume, type, and composition) allow physicians and patients to track heart disease changes over time to prove therapeutic success or signal the need to intensify therapy.