Role of FDG-PET Radiomics in the Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Inflammation: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Cardiovascular inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular complications, highlighting the importance of accurate detection methods. While traditional diagnostic tests have limitations in specificity and timing, 18-Fluoro-Deoxyglucose- Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) imaging offers a non invasive approach to visualise inflammation. Radiomics, the extraction of quantitative features from medical images for analysis with machine learning algorithms, presents an opportunity to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET imaging in detecting cardiac inflammation. Studies investigating radiomics in various cardiovascular inflammatory conditions, including Cardiac Sarcoidosis (CS), Infective Endocarditis (IE), and active aortitis, have shown promising results in improving diagnostic performance. The review discusses the challenges and potentials of radiomics in cardiovascular imaging, emphasising the need for standardisation and validation in advancing personalised diagnosis and treatment strategies for cardiovascular inflammation.