title: [¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging of atherosclerosis.
abstract: [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET ((18)FDG PET) imaging has emerged as a promising tool for assessment of atherosclerosis. By targeting atherosclerotic plaque glycolysis, a marker for plaque inflammation and hypoxia, (18)FDG PET can assess plaque vulnerability and potentially predict risk of atherosclerosis-related disease, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. With excellent reproducibility, (18)FDG PET can be a surrogate end point in clinical drug trials, improving trial efficiency. This article summarizes key findings in the literature, discusses limitations of (18)FDG PET imaging of atherosclerosis, and reports recommendations to optimize imaging protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Björn A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Søndre Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: pfhc@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Poul Flemming
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Høilund-Carlsen
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
keywords: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose; Arterial inflammation; Atherosclerosis; PET