Metabolic Imaging in Carotid Atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is a common disorder that causes heart attacks and strokes. PET CT and contrast-enhanced MRI scans are two new ways of assessing atherosclerosis. The investigators propose to perform PET CT and MRI scans on patients with hardening of the neck arteries due to undergo surgery to remove the hardened areas. The investigators will then be able to compare the hot spots found on these scans with what the investigators can see in the removed specimens under the microscope in the laboratory. This will give investigators insight into the value of PET CT and MRI as tools for assessing atherosclerosis. It will also provide the investigators with new information relating to the underlying processes that give rise to atherosclerosis and will pave the way for the future development of new treatments.