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Emerging role of FDG-PET/CT in assessing atherosclerosis in large arteries

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic inflammatory disorder. The biological composition and inflammatory state of an atherosclerotic plaque, rather than the degree of stenosis or its size are the major determinants of acute clinical events. A noninvasive technique to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is critically needed. FDG-PET/CT, a combined functional and structural whole-body imaging modality, holds great potential for this purpose. FDG uptake in large arteries has been frequently observed and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. FDG accumulates in plaque macrophages and uptake is correlated with macrophage density. It is known that vascular FDG uptake and calcification do not overlap significantly and changes of FDG uptake are common, suggesting that FDG uptake may represent a dynamic inflammatory process. It has been reported that vascular FDG uptake can be attenuated by simvastatin in patients, and by the antiinflammatory drug probucol in rabbits. Vascular FDG uptake has been linked to cardiovascular events in some preliminary studies. Data from basic sciences, and animal and clinical studies support the emerging role of FDG-PET/CT in assessing atherosclerosis in large arteries in humans.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a pilot grant from the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and a T32 training grant from NIH (1-T32 CA093258A85-01A1) to W. Chen.

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There are no conflicts of interest for the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 110 Donner Building, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Wengen Chen, Gonca G. Bural, Drew A. Torigian & Abass Alavi

  2. Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Daniel J. Rader

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  1. Wengen Chen
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  2. Gonca G. Bural
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  3. Drew A. Torigian
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Correspondence to Abass Alavi.

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Chen, W., Bural, G.G., Torigian, D.A. et al. Emerging role of FDG-PET/CT in assessing atherosclerosis in large arteries. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 36, 144–151 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0947-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-008-0947-2

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