Imaging Atherosclerosis by PET, With Emphasis on the Role of FDG and NaF as Potential Biomarkers for This Disorder

Frontiers in Physiology
Michael MayerChamith S Rajapakse

Abstract

Molecular imaging has emerged in the past few decades as a novel means to investigate atherosclerosis. From a pathophysiological perspective, atherosclerosis is characterized by microscopic inflammation and microcalcification that precede the characteristic plaque buildup in arterial walls detected by traditional assessment methods, including anatomic imaging modalities. These processes of inflammation and microcalcification are, therefore, prime targets for molecular detection of atherosclerotic disease burden. Imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) can non-invasively assess arterial inflammation and microcalcification, respectively. FDG uptake reflects glucose metabolism, which is particularly increased in atherosclerotic plaques retaining macrophages and undergoing hypoxic stress. By contrast, NaF uptake reflects the exchange of hydroxyl groups of hydroxyapatite crystals for fluoride producing fluorapatite, a key biochemical step in calcification of atherosclerotic plaque. Here we review the existing literature on FDG and NaF imaging and their respective values in investigating the progression of atherosclerotic disease. Based on...Continue Reading

References

May 26, 1999·Cardiovascular Research·A C van der Wal, A E Becker
Apr 6, 2001·Clinical Nuclear Medicine·M YunA Alavi
Feb 13, 2002·Seminars in Nuclear Medicine·Mijin YunAbass Alavi
Mar 20, 2003·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Prediman K Shah
Apr 22, 2005·The New England Journal of Medicine·Göran K Hansson
Oct 25, 2007·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Gonca G BuralAbass Alavi
Jan 24, 2008·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Gethin Williams, Gerald M Kolodny
Mar 29, 2008·Journal of Nuclear Cardiology : Official Publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology·Benoît PaulmierMarc Faraggi
Mar 18, 2009·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Joanna WykrzykowskaRoger Laham
Sep 18, 2009·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Axel RomingerMarcus Hacker
May 21, 2010·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Thorsten DerlinSusanne Klutmann
Feb 16, 2011·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Thorsten DerlinSusanne Klutmann
Nov 9, 2011·Nature Medicine·Christian Weber, Heidi Noels
Jan 14, 2012·JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging·Kelly S MyersZahi A Fayad
Apr 21, 2012·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Richard T George
Jul 20, 2012·EJNMMI Research·Andréluís Branco de BarrosAbass Alavi
Oct 24, 2012·Molecular Imaging and Biology : MIB : the Official Publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging·Gang ChengScott R Akers
Jun 27, 2013·Nuclear Medicine Communications·Björn A BlombergAbass Alavi
Aug 28, 2013·The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging·Frederik F StroblTobias Saam
Nov 26, 2013·JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging·Amparo L FigueroaAhmed Tawakol
Dec 4, 2013·Molecular Imaging and Biology : MIB : the Official Publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging·André Luís Branco de BarrosAbass Alavi
Dec 7, 2013·Journal of Nuclear Cardiology : Official Publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology·Björn A BlombergPoul F Høilund-Carlsen
Dec 10, 2013·The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging·Silvia MorbelliGianmario Sambuceti
Mar 19, 2014·Journal of Nuclear Cardiology : Official Publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology·Björn A BlombergPoul F Høilund-Carlsen
Feb 28, 2015·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Pauline HuetIrène Buvat
May 13, 2015·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Björn A BlombergAbass Alavi
Jul 8, 2015·Nature Communications·Agnese IrkleAnthony P Davenport
Jul 25, 2015·Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·Björn Alexander BlombergPoul F Høilund-Carlsen
Feb 20, 2016·Circulation Research·Michael A Gimbrone, Guillermo García-Cardeña
Apr 9, 2016·Nuclear Medicine Communications·Gonca G BuralAbass Alavi
Jul 30, 2016·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Jahae KimKi-Hyun Cho
Sep 30, 2016·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Sang-Geon ChoHee-Seung Bom
Nov 1, 2016·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Björn A BlombergPoul F Høilund-Carlsen
Feb 9, 2017·Journal of Nuclear Cardiology : Official Publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology·Jacobo Cal-GonzalezThomas Beyer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
transgenic
percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Software Mentioned

CAMONA Coronary Risk Evaluation tool

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atherosclerosis Disease Progression

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque on artery walls, causing stenosis which can eventually lead to clinically apparent cardiovascular disease. Find the latest research on atherosclerosis disease progression here.