Fluorodeoxyglucose

Fluorodeoxyglucose (also known as FDG) is a glucose analog that is labeled with the radioactive isotope fluorine-18. It is widely used in medical imaging, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Chemistry

FDG is a glucose analog, meaning it is structurally similar to glucose but with one key difference: one of the hydroxyl groups in glucose is replaced with a fluorine atom. This fluorine atom is typically the radioactive isotope fluorine-18, which allows the FDG to be detected during a PET scan.

Medical Use

FDG is primarily used in PET scans, a type of medical imaging that can provide detailed images of the body's internal structures. During a PET scan, the patient is injected with a small amount of FDG. The FDG is taken up by cells throughout the body, but particularly by cells that are using a lot of energy, such as cancer cells. The fluorine-18 in the FDG emits positrons, which can be detected by the PET scanner to create images of the body.

Production

FDG is produced by substituting a fluorine-18 atom for a hydroxyl group in glucose. This is typically done using a cyclotron, a type of particle accelerator. The fluorine-18 is produced by bombarding a target of oxygen-18 with protons.

Safety

As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks associated with the use of FDG. These include allergic reactions and the potential for radiation exposure. However, the amount of radiation a patient is exposed to during a PET scan is typically very small, and the benefits of the scan usually outweigh the risks.

See Also

• Positron Emission Tomography
• Glucose
• Cyclotron

Fluorodeoxyglucose Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia