18F-FDG Archives

Tag: 18F-FDG

A positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical containing radioactive 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose. With similar cell uptake as glucose (high in tumor cells), fludeoxyglucose F 18 is not dephosphorylated and further metabolized. Mostly used in Neuroendocrine Cancer for poorly differentiated tumours (Neuroendocrine Carcinoma) but has some utility in lower grade NETs, particularly those without adequate somatostatin receptors. See my article on scans – click here

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship111In-DTPA-D-Phe1, 123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 18F-FDG, 18F-FDOPA, Advanced neuroendocrine cancer, CT enterography, CT scan, Diagnosis, DOTA-NOC, DOTA-TATE, DOTA-TOC, Echocardiogram, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), Endoscopy, Explorer PET scan, Fluoro-18-L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, Ga68 PET/CT, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroblastoma, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Octreoscan (Octreotide scan), Octreotide scan, Paraganglioma, Pentetreotide, Pheochromocytoma, Somatostatin analogues, Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), SPECT, SSTR-PET, Survivorship, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), Ultrasound, X-ray

Neuroendocrine Cancer – If you can see it, you can detect it!

By Ronny Allan Jan 14, 2025 8 Comments

Patient Advocacy18F-FDG, 64Cu-DOTATATE, CT scan, False negative, False positive, Ga68 PET/CT, Octreotide scan, PET Scan, Physiological uptake, Scanxiety, Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), Somatostatin receptors (SSTR), SSTR-PET, Standardised uptake value (SUV)

Understanding your Somatostatin Receptor (SSTR) PET/CT Scan Results

By Ronny Allan Jul 09, 2024 3 Comments

Background In my online patient group, there is constant discussion about the meaning of both pictures and words on scan reports. The one that seems to cause the most confusion is PET scans, mainly somatostatin receptor (SSTR) PETs such as Ga68 and Cu64 variants. Worth adding that it's the addition of a nuclear tracer that makes PETs seem different. Generally speaking, the PET hardware is essentially the same. Most have a built-in CT scan, much less frequently an MRI scan. Confusion is often triggered by healthcare system processes where the patient receives the report before the appointment to discuss the…

Clinical Trials and Research, Patient Advocacy, Survivorship, Treatment18F-FDG, 18F-FDG PET/CT, Ga68 PET/CT, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer

A multicentre validation of the NETPET score (Dual [68Ga]DOTATATE and [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with metastatic GEPNENs

By Ronny Allan Dec 14, 2022 0 Comments

BackgroundIt's normally the case that the higher the grade/Ki67 in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs), the less likely the tumours will have somatostatin receptors and therefore be able to take advantage of somatostatin receptor PET (SSTR PET) as the gold standard in nuclear imaging. This is why most grade 3 NENs will receive [18F]FDG PET/CT which finds glycolytic activity in the tumour and predicts an aggressive disease course and normally a higher histological grade. It can also add to prognostic outcomes, which in turn can add to therapy choice decisions. There is an overlap though, particularly with the recognition of well-differentiated Grade 3…

Clinical Trials and Research18F-FDG, Ga68 PET/CT, Ga68-DOTATATE, Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (GEP-NET), Somatostatin receptors (SSTR)

Dual Tracer (68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG) PET Imaging in G2 & G3 Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours

By Ronny Allan Apr 30, 2021 1 Comment

For some time now, I've been watching the development of PET scans for Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). I use the term 'Neoplasms' because there are different strategies for well and poorly differentiated types, Neuroendocrine Tumour (NET) and Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC) respectively.It's known that most NETs have somatostatin receptors which makes tumours be seen better on somatostatin receptor-based imaging e.g. 68Ga-DOTATATE or 64Cu DOTATATE, but more aggressive types tend not to have working somatostatin receptors and are better seen on regular PET, i.e. 18F-FDG PET/CT. However, nothing in NENs is simple and there's always outliers. This has been highlighted since the addition…

A spotlight on NENs - Types, Awareness, Patient Advocacy, Spotlight on NENs - Types Series123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (mIBG), 18F-FDG, 18F-FDOPA, 24-hour urinary catacholamines and metanephrines, Adrenal glands, Adrenal medulla, Adrenaline, Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC), Anxiety, AZEDRA, Catecholamines, EPAS1, Epinephrine, Familial NET, FH, Ga68 PET/CT, Genetics, Hormonal crisis, Hormones, Hyperadrenergic, Hypertension, Intraoperative hypertensive crisis, Iobenguane I 131, MDH2, MEN2 syndrome, MIBG scan, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN), Nausea, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), NF1, Octreotide scan, Palpitation, Pheochromocytoma, RET, Scan, SDHA, SDHAF2(SDH5), SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, Somatostatin analogues, Surgery, Sweating, Tachycardia, The 5 E's, Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome

Neuroendocrine Tumours: a spotlight on Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

By Ronny Allan Dec 14, 2016 4 Comments

Updated 19th August 2025I spend a lot of time talking about the most common forms of Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs), but what about the less well-known types? As part of my commitment to all types of NETs, I'd like to shine a light on two less common tumour types known as Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas - with an incidence rate of approximately 8 per million per year. They are normally grouped together, and the definitions below will confirm why. If you think it's difficult to diagnose a mainstream NET, this particular sub-type is a real challenge.So, let's get definitions out of the…