Fluorodopa F 18

Fluorodopa F 18 is a radiopharmaceutical diagnostic agent used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. It is an amino acid analog of fluorodopa labeled with the positron-emitting isotope fluorine F 18. The drug is designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and be taken up by dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum. Once inside, it is decarboxylated by amino acid decarboxylase to fluorodopamine, which is then stored in presynaptic vesicles. The radioactive decay of Fluorine-18 allows for the visualization of these dopaminergic pathways via PET scans, aiding in the evaluation and diagnosis of adult patients with suspected Parkinsonian syndromes and other neurological conditions. It also has potential as a tumor tracer for various cancers.

Brand names

Fluorodopa F18

Other names

fluorodeoxyphenylalanine 18F-DOPAfluorodeoxyphenylalanine18F-DOPAfluorodeoxyphenylalanine-18F-DOPA