Uptake of 18F-FDG Tracer for Oncologic PET

Tumors with moderate-to-high uptake on FDG-PET are illustrated in red. Prostate cancer has unpredictable uptake (blue)

18F-FDG = 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose

• Most widely used tracer in oncologic PET
  
• Only PET tracer approved by US FDA for routine clinical use
• Biologic analogue = Glucose
• Glucose is used in aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, glucose consumption or metabolism
  

Oncologic Applications of 18F-FDG PET

• Tumor uptake is related to increased and insufficient use of glucose by tumor cells
• Moderate-to-high uptake in most lung, colorectal, esophageal, stomach, head and neck, ovarian and breast cancers
  
• Variable uptake in thyroid, testicular, hepatocellular, renal, bladder, sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumors
  
• Unpredictable uptake in prostate cancer

Limitations
Not tumor specific, uptake can be seen in benign processes that have increased glucose use in cells (inflammatory cells, hyperplastic marrow, thymic cells)

Reference:
Juweid ME and Cheson BD. Positron-emission tomography and assessment of cancer therapy. New Engl J Med 2006;354:496.