fluorodeoxyglucose-University of Pennsylvania

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), specifically [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose, is a radiopharmaceutical diagnostic tracer used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In the context of research at the University of Pennsylvania, it is utilized to measure regional cerebral glucose metabolism as a biomarker for neuronal health. FDG is a glucose analog that is transported into cells by glucose transporters and phosphorylated by hexokinase. Unlike glucose, the resulting FDG-6-phosphate cannot be further metabolized via glycolysis and remains trapped within the cell. This metabolic trapping allows for the visualization of regional glucose consumption patterns, which is critical for identifying areas of hypometabolism associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Other names

fludeoxyglucose F 18[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucoseFDG2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose