First Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, 114 Vassilisis Sofias St., 11527, Athens, Greece.
Experimental Surgery, Clinical and Translational Research Centre, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Ephesiou St., 11527, Athens, Greece.
Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2017 Nov 1;18(11):1236-1244. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jew219.
To explore the relationship between temperature measurements derived by microwave radiometry (MWR) and carotid flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and assess their association with histological and immunohistochemistry findings in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.
In 21 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, carotid inflammation was evaluated by both FDG positron emission/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging and MWR measurements. Carotid inflammation was assessed by PET/CT as target-to-background ratio (TBR) by obtaining measurements in consecutive axial slices 2 cm below to 2 cm above the carotid bifurcation. Temperature difference (ΔT) by MWR was assigned as the maximum-minimum temperature measurements over the corresponding carotid segments. The extent of lipid core, calcification as well as CD68 and CD31 levels were also assessed. There was a significant correlation between ΔT values and FDG uptake (R = 0.40, P = 0.01), but no correlation between the degree of angiographic stenosis and ΔT values (R = -0.02, P = 0.91) or PET/CT measurements (R = -0.28, P = 0.86). Patients with plaques containing high lipid core extension or low calcification exhibited higher ΔT (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and FDG uptake values (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively). Patients with plaques containing increased CD68 expression exhibited higher ΔT and FDG uptake measurements.
Carotid plaque inflammation was evaluated by temperature measurements, which were correlated with FDG-PET/CT indices, confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry findings. Structural changes did not predict inflammatory process. The implications of these findings in risk stratification and management of patients with carotid atherosclerosis and the precise algorithm for potential clinical utilization of MWR and PET/CT remain to be determined.
探讨微波辐射计（MWR）测量的温度与颈动脉氟脱氧葡萄糖（FDG）摄取之间的关系，并评估它们与高分级颈动脉狭窄患者的组织学和免疫组织化学发现的相关性。
在 21 例行颈动脉内膜切除术的患者中，通过 FDG 正电子发射/计算机断层扫描（FDG-PET/CT）成像和 MWR 测量评估颈动脉炎症。通过在颈动脉分叉下方 2 cm 至上方 2 cm 的连续轴位切片中获得测量值，通过 PET/CT 评估颈动脉炎症作为目标与背景比（TBR）。MWR 分配的温差（ΔT）为相应颈动脉段的最大-最小温度测量值。还评估了脂质核心的程度、钙化以及 CD68 和 CD31 水平。ΔT 值与 FDG 摄取之间存在显著相关性（R=0.40，P=0.01），但ΔT 值与血管造影狭窄程度之间无相关性（R=-0.02，P=0.91）或与 PET/CT 测量值之间无相关性（R=-0.28，P=0.86）。具有高脂质核心延伸或低钙化斑块的患者表现出更高的ΔT（P=0.001 和 P<0.001）和 FDG 摄取值（P=0.02 和 P=0.02）。具有增加的 CD68 表达的斑块患者表现出更高的ΔT 和 FDG 摄取测量值。
通过温度测量评估颈动脉斑块炎症，这些测量值与 FDG-PET/CT 指数相关，通过组织病理学和免疫组织化学发现得到证实。结构变化不能预测炎症过程。这些发现对颈动脉粥样硬化患者的风险分层和管理以及 MWR 和 PET/CT 的潜在临床应用的精确算法的意义仍有待确定。
