Radiopharmaceuticals for PET and SPECT Imaging: A Literature Review over the Last Decade

Positron emission tomography (PET) uses radioactive tracers and enables the functional imaging of several metabolic processes, blood flow measurements, regional chemical composition, and/or chemical absorption. Depending on the targeted processes within the living organism, different tracers are used for various medical conditions, such as cancer, particular brain pathologies, cardiac events, and bone lesions, where the most commonly used tracers are radiolabeled with 18F (e.g., [F-18]-FDG and NA [F-18]). Oxygen-15 isotope is mostly involved in blood flow measurements, whereas a wide array of C-11-based compounds have also been developed for neuronal disorders according to the affected neuroreceptors, prostate cancer, and lung carcinomas. In contrast, the single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique uses gamma-emitting radioisotopes and can be used to diagnose strokes, seizures, bone illnesses, and infections by gauging the blood flow and radio distribution within tissues and organs. The radioisotopes typically used in SPECT imaging are iodine-123, technetium-99m, xenon-133, thallium-201, and indium-111. This systematic review article aims to clarify and disseminate the available scientific literature focused on PET/SPECT radiotracers and to provide an overview of the conducted research within the past decade, with an additional focus on the novel radiopharmaceuticals developed for medical imaging.

Automated summary

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) are imaging techniques that use radioactive tracers. PET is mainly used for measuring metabolic processes, blood flow, and chemical composition, while SPECT is used for diagnosing conditions such as strokes, bone diseases, and infections. This article provides a systematic review of the scientific literature on PET/SPECT radiotracers and gives an overview of the research conducted in the past decade, with a focus on novel radiopharmaceuticals for medical imaging.