European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
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Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg · Sep 2016
ReviewInflammation as a Predictor of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth and Rupture: A Systematic Review of Imaging Biomarkers.
Methods are required to identify abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) at increased risk of rupture. Inflammatory characteristics of AAA can be visualised using advanced imaging techniques and have been proposed as potential predictors of aneurysm progression. The objective of this review was to determine which inflammatory imaging biomarkers are associated with AAA growth and rupture. ⋯ Current evidence shows contradictory associations between (18)F-FDG uptake and AAA growth. Data on the association with rupture are insufficient. Based on the currently available evidence, neither (18)F-FDG PET-CT nor USPIO-MRI can be implemented as growth or rupture prediction tools in daily practice. The heterogeneous results reflect the complex and partially unclear relationship between inflammatory processes and AAA progression.