Electron-Beam Computed Tomography

An EBCT is a super-fast scan that provides a snapshot of the calcium buildup in your coronary arteries, an indication of plaque. It can detect atherosclerosis in young people who don't yet have a significant blockage. "The beauty of EBCT is that it can pick up heart disease before it's symptomatic," says Joan Briller, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Illinois.