What play role in increasing FDG uptake besides tumors?

FDG, or fluorodeoxyglucose, is a radiotracer used in PET imaging to identify areas of increased metabolic activity, which is commonly associated with tumors. However, it is important to understand that increased FDG uptake can occur in various physiological and pathological conditions beyond tumors.

Infection and inflammation are significant factors that can lead to elevated FDG uptake. When there is an infection, the immune response is activated, which often causes an increase in cellular metabolism. Areas of inflammation also exhibit heightened glucose metabolism as immune cells, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, migrate to the site of inflammation, resulting in increased uptake of FDG. This uptake can sometimes mimic tumor activity on PET scans, leading to potential challenges in differentiation between benign and malignant processes.

Understanding this mechanism is crucial for interpreting PET scans accurately and recognizing that increased FDG uptake is not exclusively indicative of malignancy but can also signify various inflammatory processes or infections.

Other factors, mentioned in the incorrect options, may have roles in the uptake of FDG, but infection and inflammation are more direct and clinically relevant contributors to increased FDG activity as they reflect changes in metabolic activity due to disease processes.