The harmless radioactive sugar injected into your body before you have PET scan.
Once administered intravenously, the radiotracer accumulates in tissues with heightened metabolic activity, such as cancerous cells, which have an increased glucose uptake compared to normal cells. The PET scanner detects the gamma rays emitted by FDG, producing detailed images that assist in diagnosing and monitoring various conditions, including cancer.
In the UK, the most common radiotracer is fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). It has a minimal & harmless radioactivity that allows the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans to map the metabolic functions within the body.
Your body will flush the radiotracer from your system within a couple of days.
Side effects from radiotracers are generally mild, rare, and pass quickly but you should always discuss this with your clinician, particularly if you have allergies to medications, contrast dyes, or latex.
