Nuclear Medicine Series: Non-FDG PET Radiotracers in Oncology

F-18 NaF PET/CT has been shown to have higher sensitivity than planar 99m-Tc MDP bone scanning in several studies. The concomitant acquisition of anatomic images permits immediate correlation of any abnormal findings. Additionally, F-18 NaF PET/CT bone imaging can be quantitated, allowing bone disease to be 'measureable', increasing its utility therapy monitoring. When a consistent F-18 NaF uptake period is used, the SUV values are highly reproducible, and due to the high extraction fraction, high quality images can be obtained with a radiation dose exposure similar to that of Tc-99m MDP (including the low dose CT scan). This presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges of F-18 NaF PET/CT in oncology. ABSTRACT F-18 NaF PET/CT has been shown to have higher sensitivity and specificity than planar 99m-Tc MDP bone scanning in several small studies. The concomitant acquisition of anatomic images permits immediate correlation of any abnormal findings. Additionally, F-18 NaF PET/CT bone imaging can be quantitated, allowing bone disease to be "measureable", increasing its utility therapy monitoring. When a consistent F-18 NaF uptake period is used, the SUV values are highly reproducible, and due to the high extraction fraction, high quality images can be obtained with a radiation dose exposure similar to that of Tc-99m MDP (including the low dose CT scan). This presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges of F-18 NaF PET/CT in oncology.