Carotid Plaque Inflammation Assessed with 18 F-FDG PET/CT is Higher in Symptomatic Compared with Asymptomatic Patients

Abstract

Background

Carotid artery plaque inflammation is thought to be an important marker of plaque vulnerability and increased stroke risk.

Aim

The main aim of this study was to assess the level of agreement between 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F] fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) uptake on PET (positron emission tomography) scan in carotid plaques, with cerebrovascular symptoms, carotid plaque ultrasound echogenicity and histological assessments of plaque inflammation.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with ≥70% carotid stenosis scheduled for carotid endarterectomy underwent a Colour Duplex ultrasound, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and blood tests less than 24 h prior to surgery. Plaques were defined as symptomatic when associated with ipsilateral cerebral ischemic symptoms within 30 days prior to inclusion. Plaques were assessed histologically following endarterectomy. The level of agreement between ¹⁸F-FDG uptake (mean SUV_max and SUV_max), and target-to-background ratio, symptoms, plaque echolucency, and histological evidence of inflammation was assessed.

Results

The amount of ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in plaques and the amount of inflammation on histological assessment were significantly correlated (r = 0·521, P = 0·003). ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was significantly higher in symptomatic plaques with median SUV_max 1·75 (1·26–2·04) in symptomatic, and 1·43 (1·15–2·28) in asymptomatic patients (P = 0·03). ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was also positively correlated with echolucency on Doppler ultrasound (P = 0·03).

Conclusion

¹⁸F-FDG uptake on PET/CT correlated with histological assessments of inflammation and was higher in patients with symptomatic compared with asymptomatic carotid artery plaques. These results support the use of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the detection inflammation in carotid atherosclerosis, which may be of help in the detection of vulnerable plaques.

Keywords

carotid plaque echogenicity carotid plaque carotid stenosis carotid ultrasound ischemic stroke positron emission tomography

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