Imaging of early inflammation in low-to-moderate carotid stenosis by 18-FDG-PET

Abstract

It is not clear if 18FDG-PET can be useful for detection of inflammation in low to moderate carotid stenosis. We studied 15 patients scheduled for endarterectomy with contralateral carotids with less than 50% stenosis. 18-FDG-PET was performed prior to CEA and 3 months following surgery. FDG-uptake values were calculated based on maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) and corresponding uptake ratios. We confirmed by CD68 macrophage staining that FDG accumulation corresponds to active inflammation (R=0.8 p less than 0.005). We found significant correlation between the FDG-uptake in the carotids scheduled for CEA and contralateral carotids with low to moderate stenosis (R=0.9 p less than 0.001). The FDG uptake ratio in the contralateral arteries remained stable on the follow-up imaging (1.15+/-0.2 vs. 1.14+/-0.1, R=0.7 p=0.006). We did not find correlation between FDG uptake and symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, degree of carotid stenosis and vascular risk factors. This is a prospective, preliminary in vivo study demonstrating that low to moderate carotid atherosclerosis can be detected using 18-FDG-PET imaging and highlights the truly systemic nature of atherosclerosis.

Association of steroid use with complicated sigmoid diverticulitis: potential role of activated CD68+/CD163+ macrophages

“…However, CD68 is not an entirely specific marker for monocytes and macrophages as it has also been found in granules of neutrophils, as well as in certain epithelial cells [20,[26][27][28]. Therefore, we had chosen to use staining against CD163 in addition, as a specific marker for macrophages [20].…”

Potential of Integrated [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron-Emission Tomography/CT in Identifying Vulnerable Carotid Plaques

“…In these 10 symptomatic patients who underwent an 18 F-FDG PET scanning between 7 and 114 days (median, 33 days) after symptoms, there was no significant difference in 18 F-FDG uptake between ipsilateral and contralateral asymptomatic plaques (1.19 versus 1.15, P ϭ .185). However, due to the relatively limited sample size, 14 no analysis with regard to timing of 18 F-FDG PET could be performed.…”

Molecular imaging of atherosclerotic lesions by positron emission tomography - can it meet the expectations?

“…For arterial imaging, a longer circulation time has been recommended, preferably about 90 minutes in order to allow better target/background ratio [68]. F-18-FDG PET of the large arteries turned out to be highly reproducible when investigated over a period of two weeks [69] up to three months [70]. However, it showed signifi cant longterm fl uctuations after more than six months.…”