Atherosclerosis Imaging: Positron Emission Tomography.

Assessment of molecular changes by PET has introduced a new paradigm in atherosclerosis imaging, which has traditionally relied on anatomic changes visualized by conventional angiography or computed tomography. The use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to identify atherosclerotic changes in the vessel wall was first described more than 2 decades ago. Since then, PET tracers targeting macrophage activity, neoangiogenesis, smooth muscle activity, and other aspects of atherogenic changes have been proposed. The evolving roles of PET tracers including frontrunners FDG and 18F-sodium fluoride, which show arterial wall inflammation and microcalcification, respectively, are discussed.