Positron emission tomography imaging of brain tumors

This article's primary focus is on positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), because it is the most widely used PET radiopharmaceutical. FDG has several advantages for routine evaluation of brain tumors. FDG-PET can provide information about tumor grade and prognosis. Flourine-18 has a longer physical half-life (110 minutes) than most of the other positron-emitting radionuclides used in brain imaging, such as C-11 (t(1/2) = 20 min) and O-15 (t(1/2) = 2 min), making off-site production of fluorine-based radiopharmaceuticals practical. FDG can be delivered to PET imaging facilities through commercial vendors, allowing them to operate without the need for an on-site cyclotron.