FDG-avid
Pronunciation: ef-dee-jee AV-id
Also written as: FDG — Fluorodeoxyglucose
Describing lesions that demonstrate increased uptake of FDG radiotracer on PET imaging studies.
Full Definition
FDG-avid refers to tissues or lesions that show increased uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) radiotracer on positron emission tomography (PET) scans. This increased metabolic activity typically indicates higher glucose utilization, which is characteristic of many malignant tumors, inflammatory processes, and metabolically active tissues. In oncologic radiology, FDG-avidity helps identify primary tumors, metastases, and treatment response. The degree of FDG uptake is quantified using standardized uptake values (SUV), with higher values generally suggesting more aggressive disease. However, interpretation requires clinical correlation as benign processes including infection and inflammation can also be FDG-avid.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate FDG-avid; specify SUV values when available for quantitative assessment.
In Context
- "The mediastinal lymph nodes were markedly FDG-avid with SUVmax values up to 12.3." — PET/CT scan report
- "Post-chemotherapy imaging showed resolution of previously FDG-avid disease." — Treatment response assessment