Accurately assessing an individual’s risk of myocardial infarction or stroke
using currently available risk stratification tools remains a challenge, even in patients
with symptomatic disease. Inflammation, micro-calcification and intra-plaque
angiogenesis occur during the development and ultimate rupture of vulnerable
plaques. Molecular imaging techniques such as combined positron emission
tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) offer the opportunity to target
these key cellular processes within atheroma and identify high-risk lesions. In this
review we will set out the studies that have demonstrated the feasibility of PET/CT
imaging in assessing atherosclerotic plaque inflammation, micro-calcification and
angiogenesis. We will also discuss the potential of PET/CT molecular imaging as both
a screening tool for novel therapeutic interventions and as a means of improving
cardiovascular risk stratification.
