Yumiko Nakamoto1, Toshiro Kitagawa2, Ko Sasaki3, Fuminari Tatsugami4, Kazuo Awai4, Yutaka Hirokawa3, Yasuki Kihara1. 1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. 2. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. toshirok@hiroshima-u.ac.jp. 3. Hiroshima Heiwa Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan. 4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Uptake of 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) on positron emission tomography (PET) reflects active calcification. Application of this technique in the early phase of aortic valve calcification (AVC) is of clinical interest. We investigated clinical implications of 18F-NaF uptake in subclinical AVC evaluated simultaneously with coronary atherosclerosis, and the utility of 18F-NaF uptake in predicting AVC progression. METHODS: We studied 25 patients with subclinical AVC and coronary plaques detected on computed tomography (CT) who underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT. AVC score, volume, mean density, and the presence of high-risk coronary plaque were evaluated on CT in each patient. Focal 18F-NaF uptake in AVC and in coronary plaques was quantified with the maximum tissue-to-background ratio (TBRmax). RESULTS: There were positive correlations between AVC TBRmax (A-TBRmax) and AVC parameters on CT. The 14 patients with high-risk coronary plaque had significantly higher A-TBRmax than those without such plaque (1.60 ± 0.18 vs 1.42 ± 0.13, respectively; P = 0.012). A-TBRmax positively correlated with maximum TBRmax of coronary plaque per patient (r = 0.55, P = 0.0043). In the 11 patients who underwent follow-up CT scan, A-TBRmax positively correlated with subsequent increase in AVC score (r = 0.74, P = 0.0091). CONCLUSION: Our 18F-NaF PET- and CT-based data indicate relationships between calcification activity in subclinical AVC and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis. 18F-NaF PET may provide new information regarding molecular conditions and future progression of subclinical AVC.
BACKGROUND: Uptake of 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) on positron emission tomography (PET) reflects active calcification. Application of this technique in the early phase of aortic valve calcification (AVC) is of clinical interest. We investigated clinical implications of 18F-NaF uptake in subclinical AVC evaluated simultaneously with coronary atherosclerosis, and the utility of 18F-NaF uptake in predicting AVC progression. METHODS: We studied 25 patients with subclinical AVC and coronary plaques detected on computed tomography (CT) who underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT. AVC score, volume, mean density, and the presence of high-risk coronary plaque were evaluated on CT in each patient. Focal 18F-NaF uptake in AVC and in coronary plaques was quantified with the maximum tissue-to-background ratio (TBRmax). RESULTS: There were positive correlations between AVC TBRmax (A-TBRmax) and AVC parameters on CT. The 14 patients with high-risk coronary plaque had significantly higher A-TBRmax than those without such plaque (1.60 ± 0.18 vs 1.42 ± 0.13, respectively; P = 0.012). A-TBRmax positively correlated with maximum TBRmax of coronary plaque per patient (r = 0.55, P = 0.0043). In the 11 patients who underwent follow-up CT scan, A-TBRmax positively correlated with subsequent increase in AVC score (r = 0.74, P = 0.0091). CONCLUSION: Our 18F-NaF PET- and CT-based data indicate relationships between calcification activity in subclinical AVC and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis. 18F-NaF PET may provide new information regarding molecular conditions and future progression of subclinical AVC.
Authors: Mohsen Beheshti; Babak Saboury; Nehal N Mehta; Drew A Torigian; Tom Werner; Emile Mohler; Robert Wilensky; Andrew B Newberg; Sandip Basu; Werner Langsteger; Abass Alavi Journal: Hell J Nucl Med Date: 2011 May-Aug Impact factor: 1.102
Authors: Martin Lyngby Lassen; Evangelos Tzolos; Daniele Massera; Sebastien Cadet; Rong Bing; Jacek Kwiecinski; Damini Dey; Daniel S Berman; Marc R Dweck; David E Newby; Piotr J Slomka Journal: EJNMMI Phys Date: 2022-01-29