Routinary PET/CT imaging for oncological surveillance accompanied by echocardiography may identify early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A case report.

Atherosclerosis is a disease where plaque builds up in arteries, resulting in harmful cardiovascular events. Inflammation has a significant role in its progression, starting from the initial stages. Cancer patients, due to their constant exposure to inflammatory processes caused by treatments or illnesses, are at a higher risk of developing this condition. Arterial inflammation can be quantified with 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging. In this case report, we propose that routinary PET/CT imaging for oncological surveillance could be useful for cardiovascular risk stratification by reviewing a case of a patient with breast cancer whose imaging study revealed arterial inflammation and a subsequent echocardiogram evidenced grade II diastolic dysfunction (potentially, an initial manifestation of the ischemic cascade).