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

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Radiopharmaceutical chemistry
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are functional imaging techniques using radioactive tracers.
• PET visualizes metabolic processes, blood flow, and chemical composition, employing tracers like 18F, 15O, and 11C for conditions including cancer and neurological disorders.
• SPECT uses gamma-emitting radioisotopes (e.g., 99mTc, 123I) to assess blood flow and radio distribution for diagnosing strokes, infections, and bone diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and disseminate scientific literature on PET and SPECT radiotracers.
• To provide an overview of research on PET/SPECT radiotracers conducted in the past decade.
• To highlight novel radiopharmaceuticals developed for medical imaging applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of scientific publications.
• Analysis of research on PET and SPECT radiotracers.
• Focus on advancements in radiopharmaceuticals over the last ten years.

Main Results:

• Identified common PET tracers like 18F-FDG and 11C-based compounds for various cancers and neurological disorders.
• Highlighted the role of 15O in blood flow measurements.
• Summarized SPECT's application with radioisotopes such as 99mTc and 123I for diagnosing conditions like stroke and bone pathologies.

Conclusions:

• PET and SPECT are crucial diagnostic tools employing diverse radiotracers.
• Ongoing research focuses on developing novel radiopharmaceuticals to enhance diagnostic capabilities.
• This review provides a comprehensive overview of current PET/SPECT radiotracer research and applications.