title: Role of FDG PET/CT in investigating the mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque formation and evolution.
abstract: This review article is focused on the role of FDG-PET/CT in visualizing atherosclerosis and on the relevance of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T-lymphocytes in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. The vulnerability of the inflammatory plaque and the risk derived from the provocation of cardio- and cerebrovascular incidents independently from the presence of stenotic vessels are discussed as well as the evolution toward calcified plaque. The important role of FDG-PET/CT in early diagnosis of inflammatory plaque is discussed in both animal studies and in clinical setting. The possibility of curing inflammatory plaques, type of drugs, and the possibility of monitoring the anti-inflammatory treatment by FDG-PET/CT are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET/CT Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saboury
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chondrogiannis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grassetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18