An Update on [¹⁸F]Fluoride PET Imaging for Atherosclerotic Disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Molecular Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death globally, primarily due to plaque rupture leading to myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
• Vascular calcification, particularly microcalcifications, is associated with increased plaque instability and rupture risk.
• Current diagnostic techniques for atherosclerosis often lack sensitivity for early, pre-symptomatic disease detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of molecular imaging for early detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
• To assess the utility of Na[18F]-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in identifying microcalcifications indicative of plaque instability.
• To explore Na[18F]-fluoride PET/CT as a tool for evaluating atherosclerotic disease burden and preventing atherothrombotic events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Na[18F]-fluoride PET/CT as a molecular imaging modality.
• Focused on quantifying microcalcifications within atherosclerotic plaques.
• Assessed the ability to detect microscopic pathological processes characteristic of early-stage atherosclerosis.

Main Results:

• Na[18F]-fluoride PET/CT demonstrated potential for early detection of plaque instability.
• The technique allows for the quantification of microcalcifications within vulnerable plaques.
• This imaging approach may help evaluate the overall atherosclerotic disease burden.

Conclusions:

• Na[18F]-fluoride PET/CT offers a promising approach for the early detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
• Quantifying microcalcifications with this molecular imaging technique could aid in preventing life-threatening atherothrombotic events.
• This modality represents a significant advancement in atherosclerosis imaging beyond traditional anatomic methods.