TY - JOUR T1 - Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Coronary Plaque: A Pathophysiologic Perspective JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med SP - 359 LP - 364 DO - 10.2967/jnumed.116.187906 VL - 58 IS - 3 AU - Sandeep Krishnan AU - Yuka Otaki AU - Mhairi Doris AU - Leandro Slipczuk AU - Yoav Arnson AU - Mathieu Rubeaux AU - Damini Dey AU - Piotr Slomka AU - Daniel S. Berman AU - Balaji Tamarappoo Y1 - 2017/03/01 UR - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/58/3/359.abstract N2 - 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. ER -