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. 2022 Jun;29(3):1064-1074.
doi: 10.1007/s12350-020-02400-0. Epub 2020 Nov 3.

Simultaneous assessment of microcalcifications and morphological criteria of vulnerability in carotid artery plaque using hybrid 18F-NaF PET/MRI

Laura Mechtouff  1   2 , Monica Sigovan  3   4 , Philippe Douek  3   4   5 , Nicolas Costes  6 , Didier Le Bars  6   7 , Adeline Mansuy  8 , Julie Haesebaert  9 , Alexandre Bani-Sadr  10 , Jérémie Tordo  10 , Patrick Feugier  11 , Antoine Millon  11 , Stéphane Luong  5 , Salim Si-Mohamed  5 , Diane Collet-Benzaquen  12 , Emmanuelle Canet-Soulas  13 , Thomas Bochaton  13 , Claire Crola Da Silva  13 , Alexandre Paccalet  13 , David Magne  14 , Yves Berthezene  3   15 , Norbert Nighoghossian  16   13
Affiliations

Simultaneous assessment of microcalcifications and morphological criteria of vulnerability in carotid artery plaque using hybrid 18F-NaF PET/MRI

Laura Mechtouff et al. J Nucl Cardiol. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have suggested the role of microcalcifications in plaque vulnerability. This exploratory study sought to assess the potential of hybrid positron-emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) to check simultaneously 18F-NaF uptake, a marker of microcalcifications, and morphological criteria of vulnerability.

Methods and results: We included 12 patients with either recently symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis. All patients underwent 18F-NaF PET/MRI. 18F-NaF target-to-background ratio (TBR) was measured in culprit and nonculprit (including contralateral plaques of symptomatic patients) plaques as well as in other arterial walls. Morphological criteria of vulnerability were assessed on MRI. Mineral metabolism markers were also collected. 18F-NaF uptake was higher in culprit compared to nonculprit plaques (median TBR 2.6 [2.2-2.8] vs 1.7 [1.3-2.2]; P = 0.03) but was not associated with morphological criteria of vulnerability on MRI. We found a positive correlation between 18F-NaF uptake and calcium plaque volume and ratio but not with circulating tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) activity and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) levels. 18F-NaF uptake in the other arterial walls did not differ between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Conclusions: 18F-NaF PET/MRI may be a promising tool for providing additional insights into the plaque vulnerability.

Keywords: Carotid stenosis; Hybrid MR/PET; Positron-Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography; Sodium Fluoride; Stroke.

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