Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cellular Inflammation in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDSComparing these techniques identifies a modest correlation but some key differences related to the spatial distribution of 18 F-FDG and USPIO uptake. This may reflect the differing elements of macrophage activity detected by these modalities: glycolysis and phagocytosis. Further studies are needed to assess whether identification of this varying activity will influence aneurysm growth rates and the clinical outcome.Objectives: Inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease. Combined 18 F-fludeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET-CT) and ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are non-invasive methods of assessing tissue inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare these techniques in patients with AAA. Materials and methods: Fifteen patients with asymptomatic AAA with diameter 46 AE 7 mm underwent PET-CT with 18 F-FDG, and T2*-weighted MRI before and 24 hours after administration of USPIO. The PET-CT and MRI data were then co-registered. Standardised uptake values (SUVs) were calculated to measure 18 F-FDG activity, and USPIO uptake was determined using the change in R2*. Comparisons between the techniques were made using a quadrant analysis and a voxel-by-voxel evaluation. Results: When all areas of the aneurysm were evaluated, there was a modest correlation between the SUV on PET-CT and the change in R2* on USPIO-enhanced MRI (n ¼ 70,345 voxels; r ¼ .30; p < .0001). Although regions of increased 18 F-FDG and USPIO uptake co-localised on occasion, this was infrequent (kappa statistic 0.074; 95% CI 0.026e0.122).18 F-FDG activity was commonly focused in the shoulder region whereas USPIO uptake was more apparent in the main body of the aneurysm. Maximum SUV was lower in patients with mural USPIO uptake. Conclusions: Both 18 F-FDG PET-CT and USPIO-MRI uptake identify vascular inflammation associated with AAA. Although they demonstrate a modest correlation, there are distinct differences in the pattern and distribution of uptake, suggesting a differential detection of macrophage glycolytic and phagocytic activity respectively.

Ferumoxytol-enhanced three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atheroma- a feasibility and temporal dependence study

“…These results support our group previous histopathogical findings using Ferumoxtran-10 13 . Neovascularisation adjacent to the distribution of the macrophages was also observed hence indicative of the inflammation along with neovessel formation (see Fig.…”

“…Previously, there have been reports of the use of ferumoxytol in assessing arterial wall inflammation in carotid arteries 12 and in aorta 13 . These studies however did not assess temporal dependence of ferumoxytol i.e.…”

Monocytes and macrophages in abdominal aortic aneurysm

“…One study investigating USPIO-MRI showed that AAA growth was higher in patients with focal USPIO uptake in the aneurysmal wall compared to patients with diffuse or no USPIO uptake 141 . Another study compared 18 F-FDG PET-CT imaging with USPIOenhanced MRI in the same cohort of patients 142 . While both 18 F-FDG PET-CT and USPIO-MRI uptake detected vascular inflammation in association with AAA, their distribution was distinct, 18 F-FDG activity being mainly detected in the shoulder region, whereas USPIO uptake was more apparent in the main body of the aneurysm.…”

Iterative reconstruction incorporating background correction improves quantification of [18F]-NaF PET/CT images of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

“…It is useful to note that the AAA is normally expected to have a clinically significant uptake when the % uptake difference between AAA and non-AAA is greater than 25%. 19,33,34 Following standard clinical quantification methods, 24,[35][36][37] we estimated the corrected maximum SUV ðcSUV max Þ, and target-toblood ratio ðTBR max Þ using: cSUV max ¼ SUV max ðTÞ À SUV mean ðBÞ ð1Þ…”