FDG

Fluorine-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose — the dominant PET tracer globally. Glucose analogue that is taken up by metabolically active cells (tumor, brain, inflammation) and phosphorylated but not further metabolized, trapping the F-18 label intracellularly for imaging.

Why it matters to buyers: Drives >80% of clinical PET scan volume. Tracer-supply logistics are a facility decision: on-site cyclotron + radiochemistry vs delivered unit-dose.

Why it matters to engineers: F-18 has a 110-minute half-life; dose calibration and delay-from-calibration accounting are routine physics QA.

Used in FDG PET oncology, cardiac viability, and neurologic imaging.