Using radioactive drugs to see inside your body

What is FDG, a substance used in PET scans?

• A type of protein found in cancer cells.

• A radioactive form of glucose.

• A magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.

• A chemical used to accelerate protons.

How is Fluorine-18, a radioactive isotope used in PET scans, typically produced?

• By exposing water to high-energy X-rays.

• Through a chemical reaction involving heavy water and carbon.

• By bombarding Oxygen-18 with high-speed protons in a cyclotron.

• By extracting it directly from naturally radioactive minerals.

Why is FDG a common radiotracer used in PET scans for detecting diseases like cancer?

• It directly binds to and neutralizes harmful bacteria.

• It helps to increase blood flow to affected areas, making them visible.

• Cells consume glucose, and the rate of consumption can indicate the presence of disease.

• It creates a strong magnetic signal that highlights abnormal tissues.

What occurs when a positron, emitted by a PET tracer, collides with an electron in the body?

• They combine to form a new, heavier atom.

• They convert their mass into two high-energy photons that shoot out in opposite directions.

• They generate a magnetic field that is detected by the scanner.

• They cause the electron to change its charge to positive.

How does the radiation exposure from a single PET scan compare to natural background radiation?

• It is significantly higher than a lifetime of natural background radiation.

• It is roughly equivalent to the radiation received from 2-3 years of natural radioactive sources.

• It is negligible and cannot be measured.

• It is comparable to the radiation from a single dental X-ray.