18 F-sodium fluoride PET/CT for the in vivo visualization of Mönckeberg's sclerosis in a diabetic patient

• Published in: Revista Española de medicina nuclear e imagen molecular (English ed.) 2015, Vol.34 (5), p.314-316
• Main Authors: Quirce, R, Martínez-Rodríguez, I, Banzo, I, de Arcocha-Torres, M, Jiménez-Bonilla, J.F, Martínez-Amador, N, Ibáñez-Bravo, S, Ramos, L, Amado, J.A, Carril, J.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Radiology
• ISSN: 2253-8089; 2253-8089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.remnie.2015.07.009

Abstract Diabetes is a major frequent cause of atherosclerosis vascular disease. Arterial calcification in diabetic patients is responsible for peripheral vascular involvement. Molecular imaging using18 F-sodium fluoride (18 F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been recently proposed as a marker to study the in vivo mineralization process in the atheroma plaque. A 69-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes and no clinical evidence of peripheral arterial disease underwent an18 F-NaF PET/CT scan. A linear, well-defined18 F-NaF uptake was detected along the femoral arteries. In addition, the CT component of the PET/CT identified an unsuspected “tram-track” calcification in his femoral arteries, suggestive of medial calcification (Mönckeberg's sclerosis). In other vascular territories, focal18 F-NaF uptake was also detected in carotid and aorta atheroma plaques. Molecular imaging with18 F-NaF PET/CT might provide new functional information about the in vivo vascular calcification process in diabetic patients.