Abstract：Objective 18F-NaF positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-NaF PET/CT) and high-resolution vessel
wall imaging (HR-VWI) were performed in patients with carotid artery bifurcation atherosclerosis before carotid endarterectomy
(CEA). The identification of vulnerable plaques by the two tests was compared with the “gold standard” pathological findings. The
ability of the two to identify vulnerable plaques separately and in combination was investigated. Methods In this study, patients
diagnosed with atherosclerosis at carotid artery forking before CEA from December 2020 to December 2021 in the Affiliated
Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were prospectively selected and underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT examination and HRVWI
examination within one week. The sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PV+), negative predictive value
(PV-), and diagnostic coincidence rate of the two imaging examinations were calculated by comparing the results of the two imaging
examinations with the pathological gold standard. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was compared to evaluate the diagnostic
efficacy of 18F-NaF PET/CT, HR-VWI and their combination. Results The SE, SP, PV+, PV- and diagnostic coincidence rate of
18F-NaF PET/CT in identifying vulnerable plaques were 73.08%, 80.00%, 95.00%, 36.36%, 74.19% and the AUC was 0.765. The SE,
SP, PV+, PV- and diagnostic coincidence rate of HR-VWI in diagnosing vulnerable plaques was 84.62%, 60.00%, 88.00%, 50.00%,
80.65% and AUC was 0.723. The SE, SP, PV+, PV- and diagnostic coincidence rate of the combined diagnosis of vulnerable plaque
were 92.31%, 80.00%, 96.00%, 66.67%, 90.03% and AUC was 0.774. Conclusion 18F-NaF PET/CT and HR-VWI are both effective
imaging methods for vulnerable plaques. The combination of the two has the potential to be an ideal noninvasive imaging protocol
for the detection of vulnerable plaques in the future.
刘昭言1,2，欧阳雪晖2. 18F-NaF PET/CT与HR-VWI联合对颈动脉易损斑块的诊断价值[J]. 中国医疗设备, 2022, 37(8): 137-141.
LIU Zhaoyan1,2 OUYANG Xuehui2. Diagnostic Value of 18F-NaF PET/CT Combined with HR-VWI in
Identifying Vulnerable Carotid Plaques. China Medical Devices, 2022, 37(8): 137-141.
