PET radiotracer

PET Radiotracer

A PET radiotracer is a type of radiopharmaceutical used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. These radiotracers are designed to target specific areas of the body, allowing doctors to see how well organs and tissues are working.

Overview

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning. PET radiotracers are used in this process.

How PET Radiotracers Work

A PET radiotracer is injected into the body where it travels to areas of high chemical activity, which is often associated with disease. The radiotracer is designed to emit a type of radiation, known as positrons. When a positron encounters an electron in the body, they annihilate each other, and the resulting gamma rays are detected by the PET scanner. The scanner then uses this information to create images of the inside of the body.

Types of PET Radiotracers

There are several types of PET radiotracers, each designed to target a specific part of the body or type of tissue. Some of the most common include:

• Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG): This is the most common type of PET radiotracer. It is a glucose analog that is taken up by glucose-using cells and phosphorylated by hexokinase (whose mitochondrial form is greatly elevated in rapidly growing malignant tumours). A typical dose of FDG used in an oncological scan has an effective radiation dose of 14 mSv.

• Fluciclovine (FACBC): This radiotracer is used for imaging prostate cancer cells.

• Choline C-11: This radiotracer is used for imaging certain types of cancer.

Uses of PET Radiotracers

PET radiotracers are used in a variety of medical applications, including:

• Oncology: PET scans can be used to detect cancer, determine whether it has spread, assess the effectiveness of a treatment plan, and determine if the cancer has returned after treatment.

• Neurology: PET scans can be used to diagnose conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy.

• Cardiology: PET scans can be used to evaluate the health of the heart and detect conditions such as coronary artery disease and heart failure.

Risks and Side Effects

As with any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with the use of PET radiotracers. These may include allergic reactions, bleeding where the needle was inserted, or a feeling of discomfort during the injection. However, the amount of radiation in a PET scan is considered low and not significantly different from routine x-rays or CT scans.

See Also

• Nuclear medicine
• Radiopharmaceutical
• Positron Emission Tomography

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