18-FDG-PET imaging demonstrated a significant correlation between FDG uptake in carotids scheduled for endarterectomy and contralateral carotids with low-to-moderate stenosis (R=0.9, p<0.001).
Observational (n=15)
Blinded evaluators
No
Can 18-FDG-PET detect early inflammation in low-to-moderate carotid stenosis?
18-FDG-PET imaging can detect early inflammation in low-to-moderate carotid atherosclerosis, highlighting the systemic nature of the disease.
Effect estimate: R=0.9
p-value: p=<0.001
It is not clear if 18FDG-PET can be useful for detection of inflammation in low to moderate carotid stenosis. We studied 15 patients scheduled for endarterectomy with contralateral carotids with less than 50% stenosis. 18-FDG-PET was performed prior to CEA and 3 months following surgery. FDG-uptake values were calculated based on maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) and corresponding uptake ratios. We confirmed by CD68 macrophage staining that FDG accumulation corresponds to active inflammation (R=0.8 p less than 0.005). We found significant correlation between the FDG-uptake in the carotids scheduled for CEA and contralateral carotids with low to moderate stenosis (R=0.9 p less than 0.001). The FDG uptake ratio in the contralateral arteries remained stable on the follow-up imaging (1.15+/-0.2 vs. 1.14+/-0.1, R=0.7 p=0.006). We did not find correlation between FDG uptake and symptomatic or asymptomatic patients, degree of carotid stenosis and vascular risk factors. This is a prospective, preliminary in vivo study demonstrating that low to moderate carotid atherosclerosis can be detected using 18-FDG-PET imaging and highlights the truly systemic nature of atherosclerosis.
M.Angels Font M.Angels (Thu,) conducted a observational in Carotid stenosis (n=15). 18-FDG-PET imaging was evaluated on Correlation between FDG-uptake in ipsilateral carotids scheduled for CEA and contralateral carotids with low-to-moderate stenosis (R=0.9, p=<0.001). 18-FDG-PET imaging demonstrated a significant correlation between FDG uptake in carotids scheduled for endarterectomy and contralateral carotids with low-to-moderate stenosis (R=0.9, p<0.001).