Analysis of F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography Signal Sources in Atherosclerotic Minipigs Shows Specific Binding of F-Sodium Fluoride to Plaque Calcifications.

Objective: 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is thought to visualize active atherosclerotic plaque calcification. This is supported by the binding of 18F-NaF to plaque calcification ex vivo, but no prior studies have examined binding of 18F-NaF to human-like plaque in vivo. Our aim was to validate the specificity of 18F-NaF PET for plaque calcifications in atherosclerotic minipigs.