研究目的
Investigating the use of F-18 fluoride positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for detecting atherosclerotic plaques, focusing on its potential to identify vulnerable plaques based on active microcalcification.
研究成果
F-18 fluoride PET represents early stage, active microcalcification, while conventional imaging methods targeting macrocalcification are about the late stage of atherosclerotic plaque. Non-invasiveness, easy accessibility, and high reproducibility of F-18 fluoride PET in vascular microcalcification warrant further clinical investigation.
研究不足
The correlation between vascular microcalcification and its vulnerability is yet to be clarified due to the lack of a non-invasive imaging method. More studies are needed to determine if vascular F-18 fluoride is superior to vascular FDG images.