Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques based on [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in a large population characterized by high risk of cardiovascular disease.
PROCEDURES: One hundred forty-one patients referred to our department for FDG-PET/CT for suspected lung cancer were re-evaluated for atherosclerotic lesions. Cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed based on patient records.
RESULTS: Forty-two percent of the patients had three cardiovascular risk factors or more. Nine percent of all plaques were assessed as active FDG-accumulating plaques, 88% were inactive calcified plaques, and 2% were mixed. The abdominal aorta was the vessel with the highest plaque count. Patients with one risk factor had significantly less active and inactive plaques.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed association between the numbers of cardiovascular risk factors and the numbers of FDG-accumulating plaques as well as calcified plaques further supports the validity and value of FDG-PET/CT in the non-invasive identification and characterization of atherosclerotic disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 455-9 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Molecular Imaging and Biology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 May 9 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Free keywords
- Aged
- Atherosclerosis
- Calcinosis
- Female
- Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
- Humans
- Male
- Positron-Emission Tomography
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Risk Factors
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
