F-18 FDG Tracer

FDG stands for F‑18 deoxyglucose and is a glucose molecule labeled with radioactive fluorine. Since cancer cells have an increased consumption of glucose, the FDG accumulates in diseased cells. FDG detects a wide variety of tumors and inflammation across the body, and is also an excellent tracer to image the brain for the early diagnosis of Alzheimers and other brain diseases.

 
 

What does it diagnose?

 

Oncological tumor diagnosis

For the clarification of numerous tumors, such as bronchial carcinoma, lymphoma (aggressive lymphoma, follicular lymphoma), breast carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, melanoma, head / neck tumor, esophageal carcinoma, CUP (Cancer of Unknown Primary) and others.

Detecting functional brain abnormalities early

Brain disorders involve functional abnormalities that increase or decrease metabolism in the brain. The scans identify patterns of metabolism characteristic of certain disorders, such as Alzheimers Disease. Brain PET scans are useful for detecting such functional abnormalities very early in the course of disease, even before anatomical changes may occur.

 

Important Information

 

Important to know

  • Please don’t eat or drink anything other than water at least 4, but ideally 6 hours before the scan. You can and should drink plenty of water.

  • Please bring reports and pictures from preliminary examinations with you.

  • Pregnancy must be ruled out.

  • If you are breastfeeding your child, please let us know when you make an appointment so that we can discuss the next steps with you.

  • On the day of the examination, contact with pregnant women or young children should be avoided.

If you need to cancel:

  • If need to cancel your appointment, please inform us of this no later than the day before by 12 noon, otherwise we will have to charge a cancellation fee.

  • Also, if we can’t reach you to confirm the appointment 48 hours before your exam we will have to reschedule you. You can of course also call us if you are not reachable.

 

How an FDG PET-CT works

  • We will inject you a small dose of the radioactive tracer substance specially prepared for you.

  • Then wait 60 minutes in a lying position.

  • The recording in the scanner takes about 20minutes.

  • Drink plenty of fluids after the examination to speed up the elimination of the tracer.

  • Please let us know if you suffer from claustrophobia. Here are some tips if you do.

 

Possible side effects

  • No side effects are to be expected from the injection of the radioactive tracer itself.

  • Side effects can result from the administration of iodine-containing contrast medium in the context of the possibly accompanying contrast medium-assisted computed tomography (intolerance reaction, hyperthyroidism, exacerbation of a pre-existing renal insufficiency).

  • Please make sure to point out in the informative discussion if you have had a reaction to a contrast medium in the past (reddening of the skin, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, etc.).