Vertebral Artery Microcalcification Detected by 18 F-NaF PET/CT

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology
• Radiochemistry
• Neurology

Background:

• Intracranial atherosclerosis is a major cause of stroke and cognitive impairment.
• Detecting active microcalcifications in atherosclerotic plaques is challenging with conventional imaging.
• 18F-NaF PET/CT shows promise for visualizing vascular microcalcification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the incidental finding of molecular microcalcification in the vertebral artery using 18F-NaF PET/CT.
• To highlight the potential of 18F-NaF PET/CT in identifying active vascular calcification.

Main Methods:

• A 64-year-old male patient with intracranial atherosclerosis risk factors underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT.
• The imaging focused on detecting vascular microcalcification.

Main Results:

• Incidental molecular microcalcification was observed in the left vertebral artery.
• This finding was visualized using 18F-NaF PET/CT.

Conclusions:

• 18F-NaF PET/CT can detect molecular microcalcification in intracranial arteries.
• This technique may offer new insights into the progression of intracranial atherosclerosis.