Role of PET Imaging in Aortic Stenosis

1375Objectives: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valve disease in the western world leading to significant health burden. Its incidence is projected to increase with the aging population and is estimated to affect nearly 1.4 million people over the age of 75 in the United States by 2025. AS is characterized by progressive thickening, fibrosis, and calcification of the leaflets leading to restricted valve opening, ultimately resulting in heart failure and death. Both AS and atherosclerosis have shared risk factors, however, there are no medications proven to attenuate or reverse stenosis progression, unlike atherosclerosis, the only available treatment being valve replacement. Cardiac imaging, particularly transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) has been the cornerstone of the management of AS. It is used not only to confirm the diagnosis and grade the severity of stenosis but also assess cardiac function and disease progression over time. Modern noninvasive imaging in particular positron emission tomography (PET) is a novel imaging technique that has been used to monitor biological processes in the body. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is a glucose analogue that labels macrophages and can identify inflammation while 18F-fluoride is a bone tracer, which passively binds to hydroxyapatite crystals to form fluoroapatite and identify newly developing microcalcification beyond the resolution of computed tomography [CT]. Application of these PET tracers in AS is relatively new in...
Source: Journal of Nuclear Medicine - Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Sciences (Poster Session) Source Type: research