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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT
10:02

Quantification of Atherosclerotic Plaque Activity and Vascular Inflammation using [18-F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT

Published on: May 2, 2012

18.8K

FDG PET/CT Imaging of Carotid Atherosclerosis

Abdelrahman Ali1, Ahmed Tawakol2

  • 1Cardiac MR PET CT Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Neuroimaging Clinics of North America
|November 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with (18)F fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F FDG-PET) combined with CT can characterize atherosclerotic plaque biology. This imaging approach offers insights into plaque inflammation beyond structural assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a key inflammatory process underlying myocardial infarction and stroke.
  • Current imaging modalities primarily assess atherosclerotic plaque structure and luminal encroachment.
  • Understanding plaque biology is crucial for predicting clinical events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of (18)F FDG-PET/CT in characterizing atherosclerotic plaque biology.
  • To highlight the synergy between structural and biological imaging of plaques.
  • To explore the potential of (18)F FDG-PET/CT in advancing cardiovascular risk assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on (18)F FDG-PET/CT in atherosclerosis.
  • Comparison of PET/CT with conventional imaging techniques (ultrasonography, angiography, CT, MRI).
  • Discussion of (18)F FDG uptake as a marker of plaque inflammation.

Main Results:

  • Conventional imaging provides structural plaque information.
  • (18)F FDG-PET/CT offers insights into plaque inflammation and biological activity.
  • Combining structural and biological imaging enhances plaque characterization.

Conclusions:

  • (18)F FDG-PET/CT is a valuable tool for assessing atherosclerotic plaque biology.
  • This imaging modality complements traditional methods by revealing inflammatory processes.
  • Further research is warranted to integrate (18)F FDG-PET/CT into clinical practice for cardiovascular risk stratification.

Keywords:
Arterial inflammationAtherosclerosisCVDFDG-PETStroke

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