PET imaging of the neurovascular interface in cerebrovascular disease

Key Points PET enables noninvasive detection and quantification of inflammation, microcalcification and hypoxia, which are all associated with plaque rupture in carotid atherosclerosis The temporospatial evolution of acute ischaemia and secondary neuroinflammation can be visualized using PET PET studies have elucidated complex interactions between cerebral small vessel disease, neuroinflammation and amyloid deposition, and demonstrated different uptake patterns in vascular cognitive impairment PET-based metabolic imaging not only offers improved understanding of disease mechanisms but also provides sensitive end points for use in clinical trials and has the potential to improve clinical risk-stratification