title: Overview of PET Tracers for Brain Tumor Imaging.
abstract: This article provides an overview of the key considerations for the development and application of molecular imaging agents for brain tumors and the major classes of PET tracers that have been used for imaging brain tumors in humans. The mechanisms of uptake, biological implications, primary applications, and limitations of PET tracers in neuro-oncology are reviewed. The available data indicate that several of these classes of tracers, including radiolabeled amino acids, have imaging properties superior to those of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose, and can complement contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 510 South Kingshighway Boulevard, Campus Box 8223, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 510 South Kingshighway Boulevard, Campus Box 8223, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Division of Radiological Sciences, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 510 South Kingshighway Boulevard, Campus Box 8223, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: mcconathyj@mir.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McConathy