A Scottish study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that PET/CT using 18F-sodium fluoride can help image active and ongoing calcification in patients' coronary arteries, which can indicate a higher risk for a heart attack. The researchers observed higher 18F-NaF activity in coronary artery plaques of patients with other cardiovascular disease risk factors. "If we can identify patients at high risk of a heart attack earlier, we can then use intensive drug treatments and perhaps procedures such as stents to reduce the chances of them having a heart attack," said lead author Dr. Marc Dweck of Edinburgh University.