Abstract
If a disease state is highly prevalent and its consequences are severe, it may be appropriate to seek methods to identify it early to forestall its development and complications. Diabetes mellitus is a proven risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, although its face and outcome are changing, as shown in contemporary clinical trials. In fact, decompensated heart failure seems to drive the hospitalization rate in patients with diabetes, and mortality from heart failure is reduced with modern hypoglycemic treatments. Nonetheless, atherosclerotic complications continue to be a major health concern in this segment of the population and cardiovascular imaging has been employed in an attempt to achieve a more accurate risk stratification. Although imaging for detection of obstructive coronary artery disease failed to reach such a goal, imaging for preclinical atherosclerosis may be more successful. In this review, we discuss the use of computed tomography and positron emission tomography to detect preclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients with diabetes. Despite recent advances in the field, several questions remain to be answered as to the ultimate benefit of imaging for prevention in diabetes mellitus.
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