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Open Access 01-08-2019 | Original Article

¹⁸F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography assessed microcalcifications in culprit and non-culprit human carotid plaques

Authors: H. Hop, MD, S. A. de Boer, MD, PhD, M. Reijrink, BSc, P. W. Kamphuisen, MD, PhD, M. H. de Borst, MD, PhD, R. A. Pol, MD, PhD, C. J. Zeebregts, MD, PhD, J. L. Hillebrands, MD, PhD, R. H. J. A. Slart, MD, PhD, H. H. Boersma, MD, PhD, J. Doorduin, MD, PhD, D. J. Mulder, MD, PhD

Published in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Issue 4/2019

Abstract

Background

¹⁸F-NaF positron emission tomography (PET) targets microcalcifications. We compared in vitro microPET assessed ¹⁸F-NaF uptake between culprit and non-culprit human carotid plaques. Furthermore, we compared ¹⁸F-NaF uptake with calcification visualized on microcomputed tomography (microCT).

Methods

Carotid plaques from stroke patients undergoing surgery were incubated in ¹⁸F-NaF and scanned using a microPET and a microCT scan. The average PET assessed ¹⁸F-NaF uptake was expressed as percentage of the incubation dose per gram (%Inc/g). ¹⁸F-NaF PET volume of interest (VOI) was compared with CT calcification VOI.

Results

23 carotid plaques (17 culprit, 6 non-culprit) were included. The average ¹⁸F-NaF uptake in culprit carotid plaques was comparable with the uptake in non-culprit carotid plaques (median 2.32 %Inc/g [IQR 1.98 to 2.81] vs. median 2.35 %Inc/g [IQR 1.77 to 3.00], P = 0.916). Only a median of 10% (IQR 4 to 25) of CT calcification VOI showed increased ¹⁸F-NaF uptake, while merely a median of 35% (IQR 6 to 42) of ¹⁸F-NaF PET VOI showed calcification on CT.

Conclusions

¹⁸F-NaF PET represents a different stage in the calcification process than CT. We observed a similar PET assessed ¹⁸F-NaF uptake and pattern in culprit and non-culprit plaques of high-risk patients, indicating that this method may be of more value in early atherosclerotic stenosis development.

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Title: 18F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography assessed microcalcifications in culprit and non-culprit human carotid plaques
Authors: H. Hop, MD
S. A. de Boer, MD, PhD
M. Reijrink, BSc
P. W. Kamphuisen, MD, PhD
M. H. de Borst, MD, PhD
R. A. Pol, MD, PhD
C. J. Zeebregts, MD, PhD
J. L. Hillebrands, MD, PhD
R. H. J. A. Slart, MD, PhD
H. H. Boersma, MD, PhD
J. Doorduin, MD, PhD
D. J. Mulder, MD, PhD
Publication date: 01-08-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 1071-3581
Electronic ISSN: 1532-6551
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-018-1325-5

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¹⁸F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography assessed microcalcifications in culprit and non-culprit human carotid plaques

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Abstract

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