Radiotracer (references) | Pathobiological process | Cellular target | Molecular target | Current clinical use | Applications and limitations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18F-FDG27–33 | Inflammation | Macrophage | Glucose analogue | Yes—oncology, neurology and cardiology | Uptake influenced by local hypoxia and other resident cell types, therefore may have limited value. Widely used in cardiovascular research; has been studied in AAA disease |
68Ga-DOTATATE34–35 | Inflammation | Macrophage | Somatostatin receptor (subtype 2) | Experimental | No physiological uptake seen in myocardium, therefore clearly detects macrophage accumulation |
11C-PK1119536 | Inflammation | Macrophage | TSPO receptor | Experimental | Non-specific binding and low arterial signal density may preclude its use in clinical setting |
GE18047 | Inflammation | Macrophage | TSPO receptor | Experimental | Binding heterogeneity—10% of the population may lack binding potential due to variant in receptor |
18F-FMCH37–39 | Inflammation | Macrophage | Choline receptor | Yes—oncology | High uptake in liver may obscure analysis in suprarenal aorta. Lower tissue-to-background ratios than FDG, however, may identify areas of evolving inflammation distinct from areas of established calcification |
18F-fluciclatide47 | Angiogenesis | Endothelium, fibroblasts | Integrin αvβ3 | Experimental | Has been investigated in autoradiography studies of AAA disease |
18F-FMISO48 | Hypoxia | Macrophage | Macromolecules in hypoxic cells | Experimental | Has been used in carotid studies |
18F-HX448 | Hypoxia | Macrophage | Macromolecules in hypoxic cells | Experimental | Has been used in carotid studies |
18F-NaF46 | Microcalcification | – | Hydroxyapatite | Yes—oncology | Overspill from nearby bone can interfere with uptake interpretation |
AAA, abdominal aortic aneurysms; DOTATATE, 68Ga-[1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′-tetraacetic acid]-d-Phe1,Tyr3-octreotate; FDG, fluorodeoxyglucose; FMCH, fluoromethylcholine; FMISO, fluoromisonidazole; HX4, (3-[18F]fluoro-2-(4-((2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,2,3,-triazol-1-yl)-propan-1-ol); NaF, sodium fluoride; PET, positron-emission tomography; TSPO, translocator protein.