FET-PET is a special type of imaging used to assess the metabolic activity of tissue.
The amino acid tyrosine is a natural basic component of protein metabolism. Tyrosine labeled with the radioactive isotope 18F (18F-FET (F-18-ethyltyrosine)) has high specificity for the visualization of brain tumors and is used to differentiate them from healthy, inflamed, irradiated/scarred brain tissue (e.g., as part of radiotherapy or surgical planning), and particularly for the early diagnosis of recurrences. For example, FET-PET imaging can facilitate differentiation between tumor recurrence and radiation necrosis in glioblastomas.
