Primary imaging features and recent application of PET tracers in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Abstract

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a small vessel disease of the brain characterized by the progressive deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the walls of cerebral blood vessels. It presents with a subtle course and sudden onset, and currently, there are no specific therapeutic interventions available. Accurate diagnosis of CAA could enable targeted interventions in the early stages of the disease, potentially mitigating the disease’s effects. Herein, we review the primary imaging biomarkers used in the diagnosis of CAA, including their mechanisms, imaging characteristics, and significance. We also provide an interpretation of the latest version (v2.0) of the Boston criteria, which are commonly used in the clinical diagnosis of CAA. Additionally, this study introduces various positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for CAA and reviews their application values in the diagnosis of CAA.

Keywords

cerebral amyloid angiopathy / imaging biomarkers / Boston criteria / positron emission tomography / early diagnosis