IN-VIVO DETECTION OF RECEPTORS

The discovery that certain disease states are characterized by changes in the levels of specific tissue or cellular markers constitutes the major driving force for radiopharmaceutical development. Although dist inct clinical indications have not been defined for many of the recept or-binding radiopharmaceuticals that are currently available, in vivo radiotracer methodology (with SPECT and PET) holds great promise for t he diagnosis of many disorders. This review summarizes advances in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of selected rec eptors in vivo.