Alternative PET Tracers in Musculoskeletal Disease

Noninvasive detection, identification, and evaluation of malignant musculoskeletal tumors is difficult because of the varied grades of tumor malignancies. Positron emission tomography (PET) using radiolabeled tracers for musculoskeletal tumor detection has gained popularity because of the more detailed information it provides on tumor aggressiveness and biologic response to therapy compared with conventional techniques. Radiolabeled fluorine, amino acids, and choline have also proved to be successful in differentiating benign lesions from malignant tumors using PET. The sensitivity and specificity of the radiolabeled tracers may help in early detection and treatment of tumors in patients with cancer. In this article, the potential role of these alternative PET tracers in musculoskeletal disorders is reviewed with emphasis on oncologic applications.