In vivo imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms: increased FDG uptake suggests inflammation in the aneurysm wall.
OBJECTIVE
To study the potential of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) to identify aneurysm wall inflammation.


METHODS
The level of F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake was studied in aneurysmal and normal-sized aortas of 34 male patients [17 with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and 17 age-matched controls] identified in a database of 278 consecutive patients evaluated for staging of primary lung cancer. The maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated to quantify FDG uptake in the AAA wall.


RESULTS
AAAs showed significantly higher FDG uptake than the normal-sized aorta in age-matched controls (SUV 2.52+/-0.52 versus 1.78+/-0.45, respectively; p<0.001). The level of FDG uptake did not correlate with maximal aneurysm diameter (r=0.09; 95% CI -0.42 to 0.56; p=0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
FDG-PET/CT is a promising technique to identify inflammation of the aneurysm wall. Irrespective of aneurysm diameter, asymptomatic AAAs show more FDG uptake and more inflammatory activity in the wall than the non-dilated abdominal aorta of sex/age-matched controls. Future studies will be directed at the predictive value of increased FDG uptake for aneurysm wall strength, rupture risk, and the utility of FDG-PET/CT in assessing the effect of medical interventions.
Truijers
Maarten
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. m.truijers@chir.umcn.nl
Kurvers
Harrie A J M
HA
Bredie
Sebastian J H
SJ
Oyen
Wim J G
WJ
Blankensteijn
Jan D
JD
D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18