18F-sodium fluoride

18F-sodium fluoride is a radiopharmaceutical diagnostic imaging agent used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to detect bone metastases. Developed and evaluated by the British Columbia Cancer Agency in the MITNEC-A1 trial, it functions as a bone-seeking tracer that incorporates into the hydroxyapatite matrix of bone, particularly in areas of high osteoblastic activity. This mechanism allows for the identification of both osteoblastic and osteolytic skeletal metastases with higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to traditional 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy. It is primarily used for staging and monitoring patients with high-risk breast or prostate cancer.

Brand names

Fluoratec

Other names

18F-Sodium FluorideFluorine-18 sodium fluorideFluorine18 sodium fluorideFluorine 18 sodium fluorideSodium fluoride F-18