New insight of functional molecular imaging into the atheroma biology: 18F‐NaF and 18F‐<scp>FDG</scp> in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques after recent <scp>CVA</scp>. Preliminary results

Abstract

Active calcification and inflammation are simultaneous processes in the symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atheroma. However, active calcification seems predominant over inflammation in both groups. In the symptomatic plaques, the highest 18F-NaF uptake does not correspond with the largest calcium content. These patterns open new insights on the role of 18F-NaF in the study of calcification and in the identification of the vulnerable carotid atheroma.