Role of FDG PET/CT in investigating the mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque formation and evolution

• Published in: Revista espanola de medicina nuclear e imagen molecular Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 246 - 252
• Main Authors: Marzola, M.C., Saboury, B., Chondrogiannis, S., Rampin, L., Grassetto, G., Ferretti, A., Alavi, A., Rubello, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier España 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Aterosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Células inflamatorias; Disease Progression; Etiology; Etiología; FDG PET/CT; FDG PET/TC; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Imagen molecular; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation cells; Molecular imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Placa estable; Placa vulnerable; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - complications; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnostic imaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Stable plaque; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vulnerable plaque; Molecular imaging; FDG PET/TC; Placa estable; Células inflamatorias; FDG PET/CT; Vulnerable plaque; Aterosclerosis; Etiology; Atherosclerosis; Inflammation cells; Stable plaque; Etiología; Imagen molecular; Placa vulnerable
• ISSN: 2253-654X; 2253-8070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.remn.2013.04.001

This review article is focused on the role of FDG-PET/CT in visualizing atherosclerosis and on the relevance of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T-lymphocytes in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. The vulnerability of the inflammatory plaque and the risk derived from the provocation of cardio- and cerebrovascular incidents independently from the presence of stenotic vessels are discussed as well as the evolution toward calcified plaque. The important role of FDG-PET/CT in early diagnosis of inflammatory plaque is discussed in both animal studies and in clinical setting. The possibility of curing inflammatory plaques, type of drugs, and the possibility of monitoring the anti-inflammatory treatment by FDG-PET/CT are also discussed. Este artículo se centra en el papel de la FDG PET/TC en la identificación de la aterosclerosis y en la relevancia de las células inflamatorias como los macrófagos y los linfocitos T en la formación de la placa aterosclerótica. Se discute también sobre la vulnerabilidad de la placa inflamatoria y el riesgo asociado a determinar incidentes cardio y cerebro-vasculares independientemente de la presencia de vasos estenóticos, así como sobre la evolución hacia la placa calcificada. El importante papel de la FDG PET/TC en el diagnóstico precoz de la placa inflamatoria se discute tanto en estudios con animales como a nivel clínico. Se discute, finalmente, la posibilidad de curar la placa inflamatoria, el tipo de fármacos utilizados y la posibilidad de controlar el tratamiento anti-inflamatorio a través de FDG PET/TC.