Utility of the Agatston Score in Detecting Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Report on the Limitations of Lipid-Based Risk Stratification
Traditional cardiovascular risk assessment often relies heavily on lipid panels and symptomatic presentation. However, a significant cohort of patients remains at risk despite maintaining "normal" cholesterol levels. This case report discusses a 72-year-old male with a history of myocardial infarction (2019) who presented with a paradoxical profile: stable, normal lipid parameters but a critical Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score exceeding 1000. The subsequent discovery of high-grade stenosis and successful intervention via Coronary Angiogram (CAG) and stenting underscores the necessity of non-invasive calcium scoring. This report argues for the broader integration of CAC scoring as a regular diagnostic tool, not only for the elderly but as a proactive screening measure for younger adults to intercept early-stage atherosclerosis.
