title: Alternative PET tracers in head and neck cancer. A review.
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) has become a standard in staging Head and Neck cancer. While (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is the most frequently used radiopharmaceutical, glycolysis is not the only metabolic process that can be visualized. Different PET tracers can also be used to visualize other metabolic processes and in this manner, the disadvantages of FDG PET can be avoided. In this review, we describe a comprehensive overview of alternatives to FDG that can be used in identifying head and neck cancer. The potential advantages and disadvantages of these radiopharmaceuticals are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.wedman@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wedman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pruim
authors.forename: Jan L N
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Roodenburg
authors.forename: Gyorgy B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Halmos
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Langedijk
authors.forename: Rudi A J O
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dierckx
authors.forename: Bernard F A M
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: van der Laan
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008920:Misonidazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D009705:Nucleosides; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D009705:Nucleosides; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C031843:fluoromisonidazole; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; C498052:fluoroazomycin arabinoside; D008920:Misonidazole