The acquired images were reviewed on a NetraMD
workstation (ScImage; Los Altos, California). The total
volume and density of calcification were derived in the
following areas: 1) coronary arteries (left main, left anterior
descending, left circumflex and right coronary artery); 2)
aorta (with the exclusion of the top portion of the aortic
arch that was not included because of the imaging protocol
used); and the 3) mitral and 4) aortic valves. The calcium
score originally described by Agatston et al. (13) was
calculated. The “Agatston score” incorporates the density of
calcification, multiplying the calcification volume by a
weighted density coefficient (13).