Imaging Myocardium at Risk and Coronary Inflammation in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Combined Use of FDG PET and Optical Coherence Tomography.

Abstract Patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) represent a heterogeneous group in terms of jeopardized myocardium, pathogenetic mechanisms, and risk of recurrent events. In particular, estimation of myocardium at risk may be challenging before angiography. Yet the mechanisms leading to coronary instability underlying acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have not been completely elucidated. In this report (figure), we describe the potential utility of FDG PET in defining the myocardium at risk and to unravel coronary inflammation in one NSTEMI patient with normal level of C-reactive protein. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of culprit lesions are also shown.