title: Novel Molecular Imaging Approaches to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk Stratification.
abstract: Selection of patients for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is currently based on aneurysm size, growth rate, and symptoms. Molecular imaging of biological processes associated with aneurysm growth and rupture, for example, inflammation and matrix remodeling, could improve patient risk stratification and lead to a reduction in abdominal aortic aneurysm morbidity and mortality. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide magnetic resonance imaging are 2 novel approaches to abdominal aortic aneurysm imaging evaluated in clinical trials. A variety of other tracers, including those that target inflammatory cells and proteolytic enzymes (eg, integrin αvβ3 and matrix metalloproteinases), have proven effective in preclinical models of abdominal aortic aneurysm and show great potential for clinical translation.
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; and Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toczek
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; and Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Meadows
authors.affiliation: From the Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; and Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT. Mehran.sadeghi@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Mehran M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: aorta; aortic aneurysm, abdominal; fluorodeoxyglucose F18; inflammation; magnetic resonance imaging; molecular imaging; positron-emission tomography