Abstract
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is an atherosclerotic disease affecting the lower extremities, resulting in skeletal muscle ischemia, intermittent claudication, and, in more severe stages of disease, limb amputation and death. The evaluation of therapy in this patient population can be challenging, as the standard clinical indices are insensitive to assessment of regional alterations in skeletal muscle physiology. Radiotracer imaging of the lower extremities with techniques such as PET and SPECT can provide a noninvasive quantitative technique for the evaluation of the pathophysiology associated with PVD and may complement clinical indices and other imaging approaches. This review discusses the progress in radiotracer-based evaluation of PVD and highlights recent advancements in molecular imaging with potential for clinical application.
Footnotes
Published online Oct. 7, 2013.
Learning Objectives: On successful completion of this activity, participants should be able to (1) compare the currently available imaging modalities used to assess peripheral vascular disease (PVD); (2) understand the recent progress made in radiotracer-based evaluation of PVD; and (3) describe the potential role of targeted imaging of perfusion and angiogenesis in the evaluation of PVD.
Financial Disclosure: This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grant T32 HL098069. The authors of this article have indicated no relevant relationships that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest.
CME Credit: SNMMI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing education for physicians. SNMMI designates each JNM continuing education article for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. For CE credit, participants can access this activity through the SNMMI Web site (http://www.snmmi.org/ce_online) through December 2016.
- © 2013 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.
