Fluorodeoksüglükozun

Fluorodeoksüglükoos, commonly abbreviated as FDG, is a glucose analog used as a radiotracer in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. It is structurally similar to glucose but with a fluorine-18 atom replacing a hydroxyl group at the 2-position of the deoxyglucose molecule. This substitution makes FDG metabolically trapped within cells once it enters the cellular pathway for glucose utilization.

The key principle behind FDG PET imaging lies in the differential uptake of glucose by various tissues. Cancer cells typically exhibit a higher metabolic rate and thus consume more glucose than surrounding healthy tissues. When FDG is injected intravenously, it is transported to cells throughout the body and enters the glycolytic pathway. However, due to the presence of the fluorine-18 atom, FDG cannot be further metabolized and becomes sequestered within the cells. The emitted positrons from the decay of fluorine-18 are detected by the PET scanner, allowing for the creation of images that highlight areas of increased FDG accumulation.

FDG PET is widely employed in oncology for the detection, staging, and monitoring of a broad range of cancers. It is also utilized in neurology to assess brain metabolism in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, and in cardiology to evaluate myocardial viability. The safety profile of FDG is generally good, with side effects being rare and typically mild.