PET/MR Imaging in Vascular Disease: Atherosclerosis and Inflammation.
For imaging of atherosclerotic disease, lumenography using computed tomography, ultrasonography, or invasive angiography is still the backbone of evaluation. However, these methods are less effective to predict the likelihood of future thromboembolic events caused by vulnerability of plaques. PET and MR imaging have been used separately with success for plaque characterization. Where MR imaging has the ability to reveal plaque composition, PET has the ability to visualize plaque activity. Together this leads to a comprehensive evaluation of plaque vulnerability. In this review, the authors go through data and arguments that support increased use of PET/MR imaging in atherosclerotic imaging.
Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, KF-4012, Rigshosptialet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
Rasmus Sejersten
RS
Ripa
Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, KF-4012, Rigshosptialet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
Sune Folke
SF
Pedersen
Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, KF-4012, Rigshosptialet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark. Electronic address: akjaer@sund.ku.dk.
Andreas
A
Kjær
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammation; Macrophages; Molecular imaging; PET/CT; PET/MR; Vulnerable plaque