Abstract 16617: Association of Inflammation in Epicardial Adipose Tissue as Assessed by 16-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography With Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Extent of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been shown to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). 16-Flourodeoxyglucose(FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography(PET) can be used to identify inflammatory cells in adipose tissue, a tissue that otherwise does not metabolize glucose. We sought to evaluate the relationship of CAD with extent of EAT inflammation as assessed by FDG PETCT. Methods: We analyzed FDG-PETCT images of consecutive patients undergoing initial whole body PETCT scan for non cardiac indications. Patients with prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. Fusion PETCT images were used to locate EAT (in atrioventricular groove inside the parietal pericardium) and paracardiac adipose tissue(PAT) (in anterior mediastinum, outside the parietal pericardium). Mean and maximum standard uptake values(SUVs) were calculated by drawing a small region of interest(ROI) within EAT and PAT. Adipose tissue was identified as a with maximum attenuation coefficient of <-10HU and...