Fig. 1

Carotid imaging prior to endarterectomy was assessed by 18-FDG-PET combined with (a, b). ¹⁸F-FDG-PET combined with CT enables the image fusion of both techniques and localizes calcium (white arrow) (b). The degree of stenosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography with raw images and maximum intensity projection with measurement of the stenosis (arrows). A schematic drawing of the measurement of the stenosis is shown (c). Stenosis was measured following NASCET recommendations, where the point of maximum stenosis (*) is compared with the distal lumen of the ICA (arrow). Atheroma plaque removed by endarterectomy; the surgery was performed within 1 week of imaging (d). ICA: internal carotid artery; ECA: external carotid artery; CCA: common carotid artery