![Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F3777.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
FDG-accumulating atherosclerotic plaques identified with 18F-FDG-PET/CT in 141 patients
Johan A Wassélius1, Stig A Larsson, Hans Jacobsson
1Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden johan.wasselius@karolinska.se
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques based on [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in a large population characterized by high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Procedures:
One hundred forty-one patients referred to our department for FDG-PET/CT for suspected lung cancer were re-evaluated for atherosclerotic lesions. Cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed based on patient records.
Results:
Forty-two percent of the patients had three cardiovascular risk factors or more. Nine percent of all plaques were assessed as active FDG-accumulating plaques, 88% were inactive calcified plaques, and 2% were mixed. The abdominal aorta was the vessel with the highest plaque count. Patients with one risk factor had significantly less active and inactive plaques.
Conclusions:
The observed association between the numbers of cardiovascular risk factors and the numbers of FDG-accumulating plaques as well as calcified plaques further supports the validity and value of FDG-PET/CT in the non-invasive identification and characterization of atherosclerotic disease.
