Association of vascular 18F-FDG uptake with vascular calcification Journal Article
| Authors: | Dunphy, M. P. S.; Freiman, A.; Larson, S. M.; Strauss, H. W. |
| Article Title: | Association of vascular 18F-FDG uptake with vascular calcification |
| Abstract: | Both calcification and FDG uptake have been advocated as indicators of atheroma. Atheromas calcify as cells in the lesion undergo apoptosis and necrosis during evolution of the lesion and at the end stage of the lesion. FDG concentrates in lesions due to the relatively dense cellularity in regions of inflammation of active atheromas. This investigation examines the geographic relationship of focal vascular 18F-FDG uptake, as a marker of atherosclerotic inflammation, to arterial calcification detected by contemporaneous CT. Methods: We reviewed PET/CT images from 78 patients who were referred for tumor staging for the presence of vascular 18F-FDG uptake and vascular calcification. Arterial wall 18F-FDG accumulation greater than adjacent blood-pool activity was considered inflammation. Arterial attenuation of >130 Hounsfield units was considered calcification. Sites in the ascending and descending aorta, the carotid and iliac arteries, and the coronary territories were examined on the emission, CT, and fusion images on a point-by-point basis. When lesions were seen, we evaluated whether they were overlapping or discrete. Results: The 18F-FDG arterial distribution was consistent with established atherosclerotic topography, with increased uptake in the thoracic aorta, at the carotid bifurcation, and in the proximal coronary vessels. Arteries typically displayed a patchwork of normal vessel, focal inflammation, or calcification; inflammation and calcification overlapped in <2% of cases. Arterial inflammation preceded calcification, in terms of mean patient age. Coronary inflammation was more prevalent in patients with more cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion: Vascular calcification and vascular metabolic activity rarely overlap, suggesting these findings represent different stages in the evolution of atheroma. |
| Keywords: | adolescent; adult; child; controlled study; school child; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; major clinical study; clinical trial; cancer staging; sensitivity and specificity; radiopharmaceuticals; reproducibility; reproducibility of results; metabolism; inflammation; calcium; diagnostic agent; tissue distribution; tomography; cardiovascular risk; atherosclerosis; fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; computer assisted emission tomography; fluorodeoxyglucose f18; radiopharmaceutical agent; scintiscanning; imaging; vascular disease; artery calcification; calcinosis; cardiovascular inflammation; arteriosclerosis; blood rheology; blood vessel calcification; carotid artery bifurcation; vascular diseases |
| Journal Title: | Journal of Nuclear Medicine |
| Volume: | 46 |
| Issue: | 8 |
| ISSN: | 0161-5505 |
| Publisher: | Society of Nuclear Medicine |
| Date Published: | 2005-08-01 |
| Start Page: | 1278 |
| End Page: | 1284 |
| Language: | English |
| PUBMED: | 16085583 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 98" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: JNMEA" - "Source: Scopus" |
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