Trisha Youn1, Subhi J Al'Aref1,2, Navneet Narula3, Steven Salvatore4, David Pisapia4, Marc R Dweck5, Jagat Narula6, Fay Y Lin2, Yao Lu2, Amit Kumar2, Renu Virmani7, James K Min1,2. 1. From the Department of Radiology (T.Y., S.J.A., J.K.M.), Weill Cornell Medicine, NY. 2. Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging (S.J.A., F.Y.L., Y.L., A.K., J.K.M.), Weill Cornell Medicine, NY. 3. Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical Center (N.N.). 4. Department of Pathology (S.S., D.P.), Weill Cornell Medicine, NY. 5. British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (M.R.D.). 6. Division of Cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York (J.N.). 7. and CVpath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (R.V.).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) position emission tomography (PET) activity correlates with high-risk plaque. We examined the correlation between 18F-NaF PET activity and extent of calcification (microcalcification and macrocalcification) in coronary arteries. Approach and Results: Eighteen ex vivo human coronary arteries were imaged with 18F-NaF PET/CT, and target to background ratios were analyzed from 101 plaques. Histopathologic analysis evaluated for microcalcification and macrocalcification, plaque morphology, and inflammation. Plaques with microcalcification demonstrated higher 18F-NaF PET activity (n=84; mean target to background ratio±SD, 9.0±9.7,) than plaques without microcalcification (n=17, 2.9±3.8; P<0.0001). Higher 18F-NaF PET activity was associated with advanced plaques characterized by fibroatheroma (n=54, 10.7±10.3) compared with plaques with intimal thickening (n=22, 3.5±3.9) or pathological intimal thickening (n=25, 6.1±8.4; P=0.004). No significant association was found between 18F-NaF PET activity and inflammation (P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: In ex vivo human coronary arteries, higher 18F-NaF PET activity was associated with microcalcification and advanced plaque morphology. Since microcalcification and fibroatheromas are high-risk plaque features, 18F-NaF PET/CT may improve risk-stratification.
OBJECTIVE: 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF) position emission tomography (PET) activity correlates with high-risk plaque. We examined the correlation between 18F-NaF PET activity and extent of calcification (microcalcification and macrocalcification) in coronary arteries. Approach and Results: Eighteen ex vivo human coronary arteries were imaged with 18F-NaF PET/CT, and target to background ratios were analyzed from 101 plaques. Histopathologic analysis evaluated for microcalcification and macrocalcification, plaque morphology, and inflammation. Plaques with microcalcification demonstrated higher 18F-NaF PET activity (n=84; mean target to background ratio±SD, 9.0±9.7,) than plaques without microcalcification (n=17, 2.9±3.8; P<0.0001). Higher 18F-NaF PET activity was associated with advanced plaques characterized by fibroatheroma (n=54, 10.7±10.3) compared with plaques with intimal thickening (n=22, 3.5±3.9) or pathological intimal thickening (n=25, 6.1±8.4; P=0.004). No significant association was found between 18F-NaF PET activity and inflammation (P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: In ex vivo human coronary arteries, higher 18F-NaF PET activity was associated with microcalcification and advanced plaque morphology. Since microcalcification and fibroatheromas are high-risk plaque features, 18F-NaF PET/CT may improve risk-stratification.
Authors: Samantha J Borland; Julia Behnsen; Nick Ashton; Sheila E Francis; Keith Brennan; Michael J Sherratt; Philip J Withers; Ann E Canfield Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-06-25 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Eric J Meester; Erik de Blois; Boudewijn J Krenning; Antonius F W van der Steen; Jeff P Norenberg; Kim van Gaalen; Monique R Bernsen; Marion de Jong; Kim van der Heiden Journal: EJNMMI Res Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 3.138