Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis.
10.5124/jkma.2009.52.2.143
- Author:
Dong Eog KIM
1
;
Sang Wuk JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Korea. kdongeog@duih.org, totopia@duih.org
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Molecular imaging;
Atherosclerosis;
Optical imaging;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
Positron emission tomography
- MeSH:
Arteries;
Atherosclerosis;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Molecular Imaging;
Myocardial Infarction;
Optical Imaging;
Plaque, Atherosclerotic;
Positron-Emission Tomography;
Rupture;
Stroke
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2009;52(2):143-150
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is characterized by progressive accumulation of lipids and inflammatory cells within the artery wall. It is a diffuse systemic disease; however, some atherosclerotic plaques are more prone to rupture causing sudden thromboembolic vascular occlusions, while others are clinically silent. Therefore, to prevent such devastating vascular events as stroke or myocardial infarction, clinicians need to have smart tools to localize high-risk vulnerable plaques, which have been a huge challenge to date. Molecular imaging, which visualizes biologic processes at the cellular and molecular level, has a potential to assess plaque vulnerability and consequently identify high-risk patients prior to the development of the clinical events. In this review, we summarize important updates on the molecular imaging of atherosclerosis in the field of optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and computerized tomography imaging.
