title: Multimodality imaging of carotid artery plaques: 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study's objective was to compare (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET), CT, and MRI of carotid plaque assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT and MRI. Correlations and agreement between imaging findings were assessed by Spearman and Pearson rank correlation tests, t tests, and Bland-Altman plots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spearman rho between plaque (18)F-FDG standard uptake values and CT/MRI findings varied from -0.088 to 0.385. Maximum standard uptake value was significantly larger in plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage (1.56 vs 1.47; P=0.032). Standard uptake values did not significantly differ between plaques with an intact and thick fibrous cap and plaques with a thin or ruptured fibrous cap on MRI. (1.21 vs 1.23; P=0.323; and 1.45 vs 1.54; P=0.727). Pearson rho between CT and MRI measurements varied from 0.554 to 0.794 (P<0.001). For lipid-rich necrotic core volume, the CT-MRI correlation was stronger in mildly (<or=10%) than in severely (>10%) calcified plaques (Pearson rho 0.730 vs 0.475). Mean difference in measurement +/-95% limits of agreement between CT and MRI for minimum lumen area, volumes of vessel wall, lipid-rich necrotic core, calcifications, and fibrous tissue were 0.4+/-18.1 mm(2) (P=0.744), -41.9 +/-761.7 mm(3) (P=0.450), 78.4+/-305.0 mm(3) (P<0.001), 180.5+/-625.7 mm(3) (P=0.001), and -296.0+/-415.8 mm(3) (P<0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, correlations between (18)F-FDG PET and CT/MRI findings are weak. Correlations between CT and MRI measurements are moderate to strong, but there is considerable variation in absolute differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Gerrit J J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Teule
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Oostenbrugge
authors.forename: Werner H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Mess
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: Rob J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van der Geest
authors.forename: Johannes W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ter Berg
authors.forename: Cees L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Arthur G G C
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Korten
authors.forename: Bé J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meems
authors.forename: Paul A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Jos M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Engelshoven
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wildberger
authors.forename: M Eline
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kooi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18