PET imaging radioisotope

PET imaging radioisotopes are radioactive atoms incorporated into chemically defined tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) that enable the visualization and quantification of physiological or pathological processes in living organisms using PET scanners. Common isotopes include **fluorine-18**, **carbon-11**, **nitrogen-13**, and **oxygen-15**, among others. The isotope is incorporated into a biologically active molecule (such as fluorodeoxyglucose, FDG), injected into the patient, and accumulates in tissues based on metabolic or molecular activity. The radioisotope decays by emitting positrons, which annihilate with electrons to produce gamma rays detectable by PET scanners, enabling three-dimensional imaging of tissues and organs. PET imaging is widely used in oncology to detect, stage, and monitor cancer, and is also used in the evaluation of neurological and cardiovascular diseases[1][2][3][5][6][7][8][9].

Other names

PET radiotracerPET radiopharmaceuticalPositron emission tomography tracerPositron emission tomography radioisotopePET imaging agent

Radioactive decay (positron emission)\nEnables imaging of molecular processes by emitting positrons that are detected for tomographic imaging[1][2][6].