Feasibility of 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT for imaging of atherosclerotic plaque.
The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, distribution, and topographic relationship of vascular (18)F-sodium fluoride uptake and arterial calcification in major arteries.


METHODS
Image data obtained from 75 patients undergoing whole-body (18)F-sodium fluoride PET/CT were evaluated retrospectively. Arterial radiotracer uptake and calcification were analyzed qualitatively and semiquantitatively.


RESULTS
(18)F-sodium fluoride uptake was observed at 254 sites in 57 (76%) of the 75 study patients, and calcification was observed at 1,930 sites in 63 (84%) of the patients. Colocalization of radiotracer accumulation and calcification could be observed in 223 areas of uptake (88%). However, only 12% of all arterial calcification sites showed increased radiotracer uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate the feasibility of (18)F-sodium fluoride PET/CT for the imaging of mineral deposition in arterial wall alterations. (18)F-sodium fluoride PET/CT may provide relevant information about the morphologic and functional properties of calcified plaque.
Derlin
Thorsten
T
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. t.derlin@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Richter
Ulrich
U
Bannas
Peter
P
Begemann
Philipp
P
Buchert
Ralph
R
Mester
Janos
J
Klutmann
Susanne
S
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001692:Biological Transport; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D012969:Sodium Fluoride