18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET, the Brain, and Other Organs: From the First Human Studies (1976) to 2026

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Radiochemistry
• Medical imaging

Background:

• 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been a cornerstone in medical diagnostics for five decades.
• Its impact on understanding and managing diseases is comparable to major advancements of the last century.

Purpose of the Study:

• To celebrate the profound impact of FDG as a molecular imaging tracer.
• To highlight its critical role in assessing and managing serious diseases throughout the body.
• To discuss the future potential of FDG with advancements in PET technology.

Main Methods:

• Review of the historical and current applications of FDG in medicine.
• Discussion of FDG's utility in various medical domains, including neurology and oncology.
• Consideration of emerging technologies like total body PET.

Main Results:

• FDG has proven to be a revolutionary tracer, significantly advancing medical diagnostics.
• Its application spans a wide range of conditions affecting both the brain and the entire body.
• The tracer's significance has earned it the title 'molecule of the century'.

Conclusions:

• FDG's contributions to medicine over the past 50 years are immense and multifaceted.
• The continued development of imaging technologies, such as total body PET, ensures a promising future for FDG applications.
• FDG remains an indispensable tool for disease assessment and management.