PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Krishnan, Sandeep
AU  - Otaki, Yuka
AU  - Doris, Mhairi
AU  - Slipczuk, Leandro
AU  - Arnson, Yoav
AU  - Rubeaux, Mathieu
AU  - Dey, Damini
AU  - Slomka, Piotr
AU  - Berman, Daniel S.
AU  - Tamarappoo, Balaji
TI  - Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Coronary Plaque: A Pathophysiologic Perspective
AID  - 10.2967/jnumed.116.187906
DP  - 2017 Mar 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 359--364
VI  - 58
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/58/3/359.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/58/3/359.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2017 Mar 01; 58
AB  - Atherothrombotic events in coronary arteries are most often due to rupture of unstable plaque resulting in myocardial infarction. Radiolabeled molecular imaging tracers directed toward cellular targets that are unique to unstable plaque can serve as a powerful tool for identifying high-risk patients and for assessing the potential of new therapeutic approaches. Two commonly available radiopharmaceuticals—18F-FDG and 18F-NaF—have been used in clinical research for imaging coronary artery plaque, and ongoing clinical studies are testing whether there is an association between 18F-NaF uptake and future atherothrombotic events. Other, less available, tracers that target macrophages, endothelial cells, and apoptotic cells have also been tested in small groups of patients. Adoption of molecular imaging of coronary plaque into clinical practice will depend on overcoming major hurdles, ultimately including evidence that the detection of unstable plaque can change patient management and improve outcomes.