FDG-PET
Positron emission tomography using fluorodeoxyglucose to detect metabolically active cancer cells.
Full Definition
FDG-PET (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that exploits the increased glucose metabolism of cancer cells. In thoracic oncology, FDG-PET is essential for staging lung cancer, detecting metastatic disease, and monitoring treatment response. The radiotracer FDG (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose) accumulates in metabolically active tissues, and standardized uptake values (SUV) provide quantitative measures of metabolic activity. Combined PET-CT imaging provides both metabolic and anatomical information, improving accuracy for staging and treatment planning. However, inflammatory conditions can also demonstrate FDG uptake, requiring correlation with clinical findings and sometimes histological confirmation.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate FDG-PET; distinguish from other PET tracers when specificity is important.
In Context
- "FDG-PET demonstrated intense uptake in the primary tumor with SUVmax of 12.4." — Imaging report
- "Post-treatment FDG-PET showed complete metabolic response in all previously active lesions." — Follow-up note