%0 Journal Article %A Thorsten Derlin %A Ulrich Richter %A Peter Bannas %A Philipp Begemann %A Ralph Buchert %A Janos Mester %A Susanne Klutmann %T Feasibility of 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET/CT for Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaque %D 2010 %R 10.2967/jnumed.110.076471 %J Journal of Nuclear Medicine %P 862-865 %V 51 %N 6 %X The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, distribution, and topographic relationship of vascular 18F-sodium fluoride uptake and arterial calcification in major arteries. Methods: Image data obtained from 75 patients undergoing whole-body 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT were evaluated retrospectively. Arterial radiotracer uptake and calcification were analyzed qualitatively and semiquantitatively. Results: 18F-sodium fluoride uptake was observed at 254 sites in 57 (76%) of the 75 study patients, and calcification was observed at 1,930 sites in 63 (84%) of the patients. Colocalization of radiotracer accumulation and calcification could be observed in 223 areas of uptake (88%). However, only 12% of all arterial calcification sites showed increased radiotracer uptake. Conclusion: Our data indicate the feasibility of 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT for the imaging of mineral deposition in arterial wall alterations. 18F-sodium fluoride PET/CT may provide relevant information about the morphologic and functional properties of calcified plaque. %U https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/jnumed/51/6/862.full.pdf