Toshiki Takei MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kunihiro Nakada, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seiichi Kato MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chietsugu Katoh MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nagara Tamaki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Recent studies using imaging modalities demonstrated the characterization of carotid atherosclerotic plaque as a reason of cerebrovascular disease. Relationship between 18F-FDG (FDG) uptake in the carotid artery wall and the presence of atherosclerotic lesions was not investigated in the Asian races. To clarify clinical factors that might enhance carotid artery wall uptake of FDG, we evaluated the frequency and intensity of incidental FDG uptake on oncological PET images.

Studied population consisted of 169 consecutive patients underwent FDG whole-body for cancer evaluation. We divided FDG uptake into intensity and graded in five-point stages (0:no uptake, 1:equal to blood pool, 2: wall recognizable, 3: between 2 and 4, and 4:equal to brain uptake). We analyzed FDG uptake correlated with the medical records regarding the atherogenic or other clinical factors such as gender, age, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, diabetes, smoking and external beam radiation for cancer therapy with multivariate technique.

64 subjects showed FDG uptake in carotid wall (37.9%). Frequency of grade 2 was 16 (9.5%) and that of grade 1 was 48 (28.4%). Frequency of FDG uptake significantly correlated with male (pThe other factors showed no significance at all. Furthermore, both intensity and frequency of FDG were significantly high if the present number of risk factor was increasing (p=0.02).

Our results suggest that age and gender are the principle factors for carotid　arterial FDG uptake. Multiple risk factors and irradiation history should be taken into consideration for carotid FDG uptake. FDG-PET has a potential for detecting atherosclerotic plaque in carotid artery wall to prevent cerebrovascular disease.

Takei, T, Nakada, K, Kato, S, Katoh, C, Tamaki, N, The Preliminary Investigation of ¹⁸F-FDG Uptake in Carotid Artery Wall: Multivariate Analyses among Atherogenic and the Other Risk Factors.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4405111.html