FDG-PET in oncology: techniques and applications

Clinical PET is now primarily used in oncological indications. Fluorine-18- fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) shows a high uptake in a variety of malignancies and accounts for approximately 95% of the oncological PET studies. The firs t part of this review deals with theoretical and methodological aspects of FDG-PET. Possible sources of errors for the method are discussed briefly On cological indications for FDG-PET are highlighted according to the results of consensus meetings of experts from nuclear medicine and oncology, organi zed by the German Society of Nuclear Medicine. FDG-PET is mainly used in st aging and restaging, demonstrating of tumour recurrence and therapy control . Main benefits of the method are functional imaging, better spatial resolu tion than conventional scintigraphy and the possibility to perform whole-bo dy imaging easily. A brief outlook on future prospects for the application of PET in oncology is given.