FDG-PET IN ONCOLOGY

Abstract

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is very sensitive modality that depicts the cellular processes underlying tumor metabolic activity, such as glucose metabolism, cell proliferation, cell membrane metabolism and receptor expression. Since 2001 in oncology, PET is being used for tumor detection and differentiation between benign and malignant tumors, tumor staging and prognostic stratification, evaluation of treatment response, restaging and detection of recurrent disease, radiation treatment planning and the development of new anticancer drugs. 2-(18F) fluoro-2- deoxy-D-glucose(FDG), a glucose analogue first tested in humans in 1976, is by far the most widely used metabolic tracer globally. Pioneering work since its conception has helped to solidify FDG-PET as a powerful diagnostic imaging modality in oncology and has generated a growing interest in molecular imaging. Key words : Positron Emission Tomography (PET); FDG; Oncology