Table 2.
Qualitative evaluation of 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) compared to ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO) uptake on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
| 18F-FDG PET-CT | USPIO MRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Spatial resolution | 4–6 mm | 2 mm (subject to field of view) |
| Periluminal enhancement | Present | Present |
| Region of uptake | Predilection for shoulder region | Predilection for main body of aneurysm |
| Definition of uptake | > 125% of the averaged SUVmax from five randomly selected regions in the non-aneurysmal descending thoracic aorta | 10 contiguous voxels with % change in T2* ≥59% |
| Functional assessment | Glycolytic activity | Phagocytic activity |
| Ionising radiation | Yes | No |