Original articleChanging patterns of abnormal vascular wall F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on follow-up PET/CT studies
Section snippets
Patient Population
In the study we retrospectively enrolled 50 consecutive cancer patients, aged 50 years or older, in whom routine follow-up FDG-PET/CT imaging was performed for assessment of malignant tumors. Repeat studies were performed 8 to 26 months apart (median, 13 months). A detailed clinical history regarding the presence of cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and history of cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction,
Results
Increased focal vascular wall FDG uptake and vascular wall CT calcifications were found in 485 sites in 46 patients in the first study and in 495 sites in 47 patients in the follow-up study. There were 0 to 24 sites per patient (median, 10 sites).
Vascular CT calcifications were observed in the first study in 401 sites (83%) in 46 patients (92%) and were present in the second study in 422 sites (85%) in 47 patients (94%) (Table 2).
Increased focal vascular wall FDG uptake was observed in the
Discussion
Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of death in the world. More than 500,000 Americans die each year of coronary artery disease, and over 90% of sudden deaths occur in individuals with 2 or more narrowed arteries. Within an atherosclerotic plaque, a dynamic balance exists between the processes of erosion and rupture of the fibrous cap (mainly by the macrophages) and repair.1 A “vulnerable” plaque can precipitate a clinical event.23 Rupture, though independent of plaque size, is related
Acknowledgment
The authors have indicated they have no financial conflicts of interest.
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This study was supported in part by the Eliyahu Pen Technion Research Grant.