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Introduction: Although (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been widely utilized to assess the extent of inflammation, the association between the extent and severity of atherosclerosis and (18)F-FDG uptake on PET remains unexamined. The current study aimed to investigate whether aortic calcium (AC) scores were associated with increased aortic uptake of (18)F-FDG on PET. Methods: A total of 167 consecutive patients with suspected lung cancer but unproven malignancy who underwent non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and (18)F-FDG PET/CT were enrolled. The average standardized uptake values in the ascending aorta were used to calculate the target-to-background ratio (Mean TBR). The total (thoracic and abdominal) AC scores were measured on non-contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT using the Agatston method, and were categorized into three groups (0, 1–399, and ≥400). The relationship between total AC scores and (18)F-FDG uptake in the ascending aorta was assessed using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: In total, 68.26% were male, and a mean age was 67.10±14.70 years. Mean TBR values increased progressively with total AC score 0, 1–399, and ≥400 (1.01±0.07, 1.08±0.09, and 1.11±0.11, respectively; p |
