18Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaque Inflammation Is Highly Reproducible: Implications for Atherosclerosis …

JHF Rudd, KS Myers, S Bansilal, J Machac… - Journal of the American …, 2007 - jacc.org
JHF Rudd, KS Myers, S Bansilal, J Machac, A Rafique, M Farkouh, V Fuster, ZA Fayad
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2007jacc.org
Objectives: This study tested the near-term reproducibility of 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron
emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging of atherosclerosis. Background: It is known that
FDG-PET can measure inflammation within the aorta, carotid, and vertebral arteries with
histologic validation in humans and animal models of disease. By tracking changes in
inflammation over time, PET could be used as a surrogate marker of antiatheroma drug
efficacy. However, the short-term variability and reproducibility of the technique are …
Objectives
This study tested the near-term reproducibility of 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging of atherosclerosis.
Background
It is known that FDG-PET can measure inflammation within the aorta, carotid, and vertebral arteries with histologic validation in humans and animal models of disease. By tracking changes in inflammation over time, PET could be used as a surrogate marker of antiatheroma drug efficacy. However, the short-term variability and reproducibility of the technique are unknown.
Methods
We imaged the carotid arteries and aorta in 11 subjects with FDG-PET/computed tomography twice, 14 days apart. We assessed interobserver and intraobserver agreement and interscan variability.
Results
Interscan plaque FDG variability over 2 weeks was very low; intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged between 0.79 and 0.92. Interobserver agreement was high across all territories imaged except aortic arch (ICC values from 0.90 to 0.97, arch 0.71). Intraobserver agreement was high, with ICC values between 0.93 and 0.98.
Conclusions
Spontaneous change in plaque FDG uptake is low over 2 weeks, with favorable inter- and intraobserver agreement. Power calculations suggest that drug studies using FDG-PET imaging would require few subjects compared with other imaging modalities. This study strengthens the case for FDG-PET as a noninvasive plaque imaging technique.
jacc.org