Atherosclerosis, Vasculitis & Vascular Grafts

While vascular uptake can be associated with atherosclerosis or vasculitis, mild to moderate metabolic activity in vessels is a common normal finding, even in young adults. Even intense vascular uptake is considered normal, as long as it is relatively diffuse (non-focal).

Focal intense FDG uptake in vessels is typically seen with arteriosclerosis, focal inflammatory plaque formation (active atherosclerosis) and vasculitis.

Atherosclerosis: 

Uptake associated with atherosclerosis is a common finding, presumably due to inflammation. Unless the patient is unusually young for atherosclerosis, it is generally not reported.

Vasculitis:  

Vasculitis is a rare cause of intense vascular uptake. This diagnosis is generally suggested only when the uptake is focal or segmental, intense and corroborated by clinical findings.

Vascular Grafts: 

Intense linear uptake along the course of a vascular graft is occasionally encountered and is usually a normal finding. The possibility of infection, however, should be raised if uptake within a graft is focal, intense and corroborated by clinical findings.