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Sammartino AM, Falco R, Drera A, Dondi F, Bellini P, Bertagna F, Vizzardi E. "Vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease: review about the role of PET imaging". Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2023; 39:433-440. [PMID: 36255543 PMCID: PMC9870832 DOI: 10.1007/s10554-022-02730-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation characterizes all stages of atherothrombosis and provides a critical pathophysiological link between plaque formation and its acute rupture, leading to coronary occlusion and heart attack. In the last 20 years the possibility of quantifying the degree of inflammation of atherosclerotic plaques and, therefore, also of vascular inflammation aroused much interest. 18Fluoro-deoxy-glucose photon-emissions-tomography (18F-FDG-PET) is widely used in oncology for staging and searching metastases; in cardiology, the absorption of 18F-FDG into the arterial wall was observed for the first time incidentally in the aorta of patients undergoing PET imaging for cancer staging. PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) has been shown to assess atherosclerotic disease in its molecular phase, when the process may still be reversible. This approach has several limitations in the clinical practice, due to lack of prospective data to justify their use routinely, but it's desirable to develop further scientific evidence to confirm this technique to detect high-risk patients for cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Maria Sammartino
- Institute of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Raffaele Falco
- Institute of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Drera
- Institute of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Dondi
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili Di Brescia, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pietro Bellini
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili Di Brescia, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Bertagna
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili Di Brescia, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Vizzardi
- Institute of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Arani LS, Zirakchian Zadeh M, Saboury B, Revheim ME, Øestergaard B, Borja AJ, Samadi Samarin D, Mehdizadeh Seraj S, Kalbush E, Ayubcha C, Morris MA, Werner TJ, Abildgaard N, Høilund-Carlsen PF, Alavi A. Assessment of atherosclerosis in multiple myeloma and smoldering myeloma patients using 18F- sodium fluoride PET/CT. J Nucl Cardiol 2021; 28:3044-3054. [PMID: 33389640 DOI: 10.1007/s12350-020-02446-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To compare the NaF uptake in the thoracic aorta and whole heart, as an early indicator of atherosclerosis, in multiple myeloma (MM) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients with a healthy control (HC) group. METHODS Forty-four untreated myeloma patients (35 MM and nine SMM) and twenty-six age and gender-matched HC subjects were collected. Each individual's NaF uptake in three parts of the aorta (AA: ascending aorta, AR: aortic arch, DA: descending aorta) and the whole heart was segmented. Average global standardized uptake value means were derived by sum of the product of each slice area divided by the sum of those slice areas. Results were reported as target to background ratio (TBR). RESULTS There was a significant difference between the NaF uptake in the thoracic aorta of myeloma and HC groups [AA (myeloma = 1.82 ± 0.21, HC = 1.24 ± 0.02), AR (myeloma = 1.71 ± 0.19, HC = 1.28 ± 0.03) and DA (myeloma = 1.96 ± 0.28, HC = 1.38 ± 0.03); P-values < 0.001]. The difference in the whole heart NaF uptake between two groups was also significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We observed a higher uptake of NaF in the thoracic aorta and whole heart of myeloma patients in comparison to the matched control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila S Arani
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mahdi Zirakchian Zadeh
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Dental School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Babak Saboury
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mona-Elisabeth Revheim
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Brian Øestergaard
- Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Austin J Borja
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Davoud Samadi Samarin
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Siavash Mehdizadeh Seraj
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Eman Kalbush
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Cyrus Ayubcha
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael A Morris
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tom J Werner
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Niels Abildgaard
- Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Hematology Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Poul F Høilund-Carlsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Abass Alavi
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Raynor WY, Park PSU, Borja AJ, Sun Y, Werner TJ, Ng SJ, Lau HC, Høilund-Carlsen PF, Alavi A, Revheim ME. PET-Based Imaging with 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF to Assess Inflammation and Microcalcification in Atherosclerosis and Other Vascular and Thrombotic Disorders. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122234. [PMID: 34943473 PMCID: PMC8700072 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) represents a method of detecting and characterizing arterial wall inflammation, with potential applications in the early assessment of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis. By portraying early-stage molecular changes, FDG-PET findings have previously been shown to correlate with atherosclerosis progression. In addition, recent studies have suggested that microcalcification revealed by 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) may be more sensitive at detecting atherogenic changes compared to FDG-PET. In this review, we summarize the roles of FDG and NaF in the assessment of atherosclerosis and discuss the role of global assessment in quantification of the vascular disease burden. Furthermore, we will review the emerging applications of FDG-PET in various vascular disorders, including pulmonary embolism, as well as inflammatory and infectious vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Y. Raynor
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
| | - Peter Sang Uk Park
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Austin J. Borja
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Yusha Sun
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Thomas J. Werner
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
| | - Sze Jia Ng
- Department of Medicine, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA 19013, USA; (S.J.N.); (H.C.L.)
| | - Hui Chong Lau
- Department of Medicine, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA 19013, USA; (S.J.N.); (H.C.L.)
| | - Poul Flemming Høilund-Carlsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Abass Alavi
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
| | - Mona-Elisabeth Revheim
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (W.Y.R.); (P.S.U.P.); (A.J.B.); (T.J.W.); (A.A.)
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, 0372 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Problemveien 7, 0315 Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence: or
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Saboury B, Edenbrandt L, Piri R, Gerke O, Werner T, Arbab-Zadeh A, Alavi A, Høilund-Carlsen PF. Alavi-Carlsen Calcification Score (ACCS): A Simple Measure of Global Cardiac Atherosclerosis Burden. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:1421. [PMID: 34441355 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11081421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multislice cardiac CT characterizes late stage macrocalcification in epicardial arteries as opposed to PET/CT, which mirrors early phase arterial wall changes in epicardial and transmural coronary arteries. With regard to tracer, there has been a shift from using mainly 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), indicating inflammation, to applying predominantly 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) due to its high affinity for arterial wall microcalcification and more consistent association with cardiovascular risk factors. To make NaF-PET/CT an indispensable adjunct to clinical assessment of cardiac atherosclerosis, the Alavi–Carlsen Calcification Score (ACCS) has been proposed. It constitutes a global assessment of cardiac atherosclerosis burden in the individual patient, supported by an artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach for fast observer-independent segmentation. Common measures for characterizing epicardial coronary atherosclerosis by NaF-PET/CT as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) or target-to-background ratio are more versatile, error prone, and less reproducible than the ACCS, which equals the average cardiac SUV. The AI-based approach ensures a quick and easy delineation of the entire heart in 3D to obtain the ACCS expressing ongoing global cardiac atherosclerosis, even before it gives rise to CT-detectable coronary calcification. The quantification of global cardiac atherosclerotic burden by the ACCS is suited for management triage and monitoring of disease progression with and without intervention.
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Sorysz D, Januszek R, Sowa-Staszczak A, Grochowska A, Opalińska M, Bagieński M, Zawiślak B, Dziewierz A, Tokarek T, Krawczyk-Ożóg A, Bartuś S, Dudek D. The Usefulness of [ 18F]F-Fluorodeoxyglucose and [ 18F]F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in the Assessment of Early-Stage Aortic Valve Degeneration after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)-Protocol Description and Preliminary Results. J Clin Med 2021; 10:431. [PMID: 33499425 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10030431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is now a well-established treatment for severe aortic stenosis. As the number of procedures and indications increase, the age of patients decreases. However, their durability and factors accelerating the process of degeneration are not well-known. The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of using [18F]F-sodium fluoride ([18F]F-NaF) and [18F]F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing the intensity of TAVI valve degenerative processes. In 73 TAVI patients, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at initial (before TAVI), baseline (after TAVI), and during follow-up, as well as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and PET/CT, were performed using [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG at the six-month follow-up (FU) visit as a part of a two-year FU period. The morphology of TAVI valve leaflets were assessed in TEE, transvalvular gradients and effective orifice area (EOA) in TTE. Calcium scores and PET tracer activity were counted. We assessed the relationship between [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG PET/CT uptake at the 6 = month FU with selected indices e.g.,: transvalvular gradient, valve type, EOA and insufficiency grade at following time points after the TAVI procedure. We present the preliminary PET/CT ([18F]F-NaF, [18F]F-FDG) results at the six-month follow-up period as are part of an ongoing study, which will last two years FU. We enrolled 73 TAVI patients with the mean age of 82.49 ± 7.11 years. A significant decrease in transvalvular gradient and increase of effective orifice area and left ventricle ejection fraction were observed. At six months, FU valve thrombosis was diagnosed in four patients, while 7.6% of patients refused planned controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We noticed significant correlations between valve types, EOA and transaortic valve gradients, as well as [18F]F-NaF and [18F]F-FDG uptake in PET/CT. PET/CT imaging with the use of [18F]F-FDG and [18F]F-NaF is intended to be feasible, and it practically allows the standardized uptake value (SUV) to differentiate the area containing the TAVI leaflets from the SUV directly adjacent to the ring calcifications and the calcified native leaflets. This could become the seed for future detection and evaluation capabilities regarding the progression of even early degenerative lesions to the TAVI valve, expressed as local leaflet inflammation and microcalcifications.
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Mayer M, Borja AJ, Hancin EC, Auslander T, Revheim ME, Moghbel MC, Werner TJ, Alavi A, Rajapakse CS. Imaging Atherosclerosis by PET, With Emphasis on the Role of FDG and NaF as Potential Biomarkers for This Disorder. Front Physiol 2020; 11:511391. [PMID: 33192540 PMCID: PMC7642524 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.511391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging has emerged in the past few decades as a novel means to investigate atherosclerosis. From a pathophysiological perspective, atherosclerosis is characterized by microscopic inflammation and microcalcification that precede the characteristic plaque buildup in arterial walls detected by traditional assessment methods, including anatomic imaging modalities. These processes of inflammation and microcalcification are, therefore, prime targets for molecular detection of atherosclerotic disease burden. Imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) can non-invasively assess arterial inflammation and microcalcification, respectively. FDG uptake reflects glucose metabolism, which is particularly increased in atherosclerotic plaques retaining macrophages and undergoing hypoxic stress. By contrast, NaF uptake reflects the exchange of hydroxyl groups of hydroxyapatite crystals for fluoride producing fluorapatite, a key biochemical step in calcification of atherosclerotic plaque. Here we review the existing literature on FDG and NaF imaging and their respective values in investigating the progression of atherosclerotic disease. Based on the large volume of data that have been introduced to the literature and discussed in this review, it is clear that PET imaging will have a major role to play in assessing atherosclerosis in the major and coronary arteries. However, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions on the potential role of FDG in investigating atherosclerosis given the vast number of studies with different designs, image acquisition methods, analyses, and interpretations. Our experience in this domain of research has suggested that NaF may be the tool of choice over FDG in assessing atherosclerosis, especially in the setting of coronary artery disease (CAD). Specifically, global NaF assessment appears to be superior in detecting plaques in tissues with high background FDG activity, such as the coronary arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mayer
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Austin J Borja
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emily C Hancin
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Thomas Auslander
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mona-Elisabeth Revheim
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mateen C Moghbel
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Thomas J Werner
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Abass Alavi
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Chamith S Rajapakse
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Høilund-Carlsen PF, Piri R, Constantinescu C, Iversen KK, Werner TJ, Sturek M, Alavi A, Gerke O. Atherosclerosis Imaging with 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E852. [PMID: 33092250 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10100852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The evidence on atherosclerosis imaging with 18F-sodium-fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) is hotly debated because of the different patient characteristics, methodology, vascular beds, etc. in reported studies. This review is a continuation of a previous review on this topic, which covered the period 2010-2018. The purpose was to examine whether some of the most important questions that the previous review had left open had been elucidated by the most recent literature. Using principles of a systematic review, we ended analyzing 25 articles dealing with the carotids, coronary arteries, aorta, femoral, intracranial, renal, and penile arteries. The knowledge thus far can be summarized as follows: by targeting active arterial microcalcification, NaF uptake is considered a marker of early stage atherosclerosis, is age-dependent, and consistently associated with cardiovascular risk. Longitudinal studies on NaF uptake, conducted in the abdominal aorta only, showed unchanged uptake in postmenopausal women for nearly four years and varying uptake in prostate cancer patients over 1.5 years, despite constant or increasing calcium volume detected by computed tomography (CT). Thus, uncertainty remains about the transition from active arterial wall calcification marked by increased NaF uptake to less active or consolidated calcification detected by CT. The question of whether early-phase atherosclerosis and calcification can be modified remains also unanswered due to lack of intervention studies.
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Lee R, Seok JW. An Update on [ 18F]Fluoride PET Imaging for Atherosclerotic Disease. J Lipid Atheroscler 2020; 9:349-361. [PMID: 33024730 PMCID: PMC7521973 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2020.9.3.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of life-threatening morbidity and mortality, as the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques leads to critical atherothrombotic events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, which are the 2 most common causes of death worldwide. Vascular calcification is a complicated pathological process involved in atherosclerosis, and microcalcifications are presumed to increase the likelihood of plaque rupture. Despite many efforts to develop novel non-invasive diagnostic modalities, diagnostic techniques are still limited, especially before symptomatic presentation. From this point of view, vulnerable plaques are a direct target of atherosclerosis imaging. Anatomic imaging modalities have the limitation of only visualizing macroscopic structural changes, which occurs in later stages of disease, while molecular imaging modalities are able to detect microscopic processes and microcalcifications, which occur early in the disease process. Na[18F]-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography could allow the early detection of plaque instability, which is deemed to be a primary goal in the prevention of cardiac or brain ischemic events, by quantifying the microcalcifications within vulnerable plaques and evaluating the atherosclerotic disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeree Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ju Won Seok
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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