What is the primary benefit of FDG in PET scans?

The primary benefit of FDG (fludeoxyglucose) in PET scans is its ability to monitor tumor metabolic activity. FDG is a radiopharmaceutical that mimics glucose; because tumors typically have a higher metabolic rate than normal tissues, they uptake more FDG. This high uptake allows for the visualization of cancerous tissues, making it an effective tool for detecting malignancies, determining tumor grade, and assessing treatment response. By measuring the metabolic activity of tumors, FDG PET scans can provide valuable information that aids in diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic planning.

In contrast, while promoting blood flow, identifying benign lesions, and enhancing imaging speed are important aspects of medical imaging, they do not capture the unique functionality of FDG in the context of PET scans, which is primarily centered on metabolic activity assessment.