Cleerly AI Cardiac CT — See Beyond the Calcium Score
AI-powered coronary CT angiography analysis that characterizes plaque type, quantifies stenosis, and predicts heart attack risk with a level of detail that calcium scoring alone cannot provide.
What Is Cleerly?
Cleerly is an FDA-cleared AI platform that analyzes coronary CT angiography (CCTA) images to characterize atherosclerotic plaque in your coronary arteries. Unlike traditional calcium scoring, which only detects calcified (hard) plaque, Cleerly identifies and quantifies all three plaque types — soft (lipid-rich), mixed, and calcified — providing a comprehensive picture of your coronary artery disease burden and heart attack risk.
Cleerly vs. Calcium Scoring
Calcium scoring is a valuable screening tool — but it has significant blind spots. Here's why Cleerly goes further:
Calcium Score
- •Shows IF calcified plaque exists
- •Cannot detect soft (non-calcified) plaque
- •Provides a single number (Agatston score)
- •No contrast required
- •Useful as a screening tool
Cleerly AI Analysis
- Shows WHAT KIND of plaque and how dangerous
- Detects soft, mixed, AND calcified plaque
- Quantifies total plaque volume and composition
- Maps stenosis (narrowing) in each artery
- Generates a comprehensive risk report
Soft plaque is particularly important because it is the type most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack. A patient can have a calcium score of zero yet still have dangerous soft plaque — Cleerly can find it.
Who Should Consider Cleerly?
- Intermediate-risk patients where treatment decisions are uncertain
- Patients with a calcium score of 1–399 who need more detailed plaque characterization
- Patients being evaluated for chest pain or atypical cardiac symptoms
- Individuals with strong family history of heart disease who want comprehensive risk assessment
- Patients and physicians deciding whether to initiate or intensify statin therapy
What to Expect
Preparation
You may be asked to avoid caffeine for 12 hours before the exam. A beta-blocker medication may be given to lower your heart rate for optimal image quality. An IV line is placed for contrast injection.
CT Angiography Scan
You lie on the CT table while iodinated contrast is injected through your IV. The scanner captures detailed images of your coronary arteries in about 10–15 seconds of actual scan time. You may feel a brief warm flush from the contrast.
Cleerly AI Analysis
Your CCTA images are processed by Cleerly's AI platform, which segments every coronary artery, identifies and quantifies plaque by type, and maps stenosis throughout the coronary tree.
Detailed Risk Report
Your cardiologist or referring physician receives a comprehensive report including vessel-by-vessel plaque analysis, total plaque burden, stenosis measurements, and an overall risk assessment to guide treatment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
A calcium score detects calcified plaque only — it tells you IF hard plaque exists but nothing about soft or mixed plaque, which can be more dangerous. Cleerly analyzes a full coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to characterize all plaque types — soft, mixed, and calcified — and quantifies total plaque burden, stenosis, and composition. It provides a far more complete picture of heart disease risk.
Yes. Cleerly analysis runs on coronary CT angiography (CCTA), which requires an IV injection of iodinated contrast dye to visualize the coronary arteries. This is different from a calcium score, which requires no contrast.
Coronary CT angiography (the imaging exam) is often covered by insurance when medically indicated. The Cleerly AI analysis component may or may not be covered depending on your plan. Call us at (727) 398-5999 to discuss pricing and coverage.
Cleerly may not be appropriate for patients with known severe kidney disease (due to contrast requirements), allergy to iodinated contrast, very high heart rates that cannot be controlled with medication, or those who are pregnant. Your physician will determine if the exam is right for you.
The CT angiography scan itself takes about 10–15 minutes. Including preparation (IV placement, heart rate optimization if needed), plan for about 30–45 minutes total. The Cleerly AI analysis is processed after the scan and does not add time to your visit.
Schedule Your Cardiac CT with Cleerly Analysis
Call us to schedule your coronary CT angiography with AI-powered plaque analysis. Know your true heart disease risk.