What radiopharmaceutical first received FDA approval for PET imaging?

The radiopharmaceutical that first received FDA approval for PET imaging is 18F-FDG. This compound, which stands for fluorodeoxyglucose, is a glucose analog that is widely used in PET imaging for a variety of oncological, neurological, and cardiological applications. Its FDA approval was crucial because it laid the groundwork for the use of PET imaging in clinical practice, particularly for cancer diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response.

18F-FDG works based on the principle of increased glucose metabolism in tumor cells compared to normal tissue, allowing for visualization of cancerous growths. Since its introduction, 18F-FDG has become the standard radiotracer in the field of PET imaging, greatly enhancing our ability to detect and monitor various diseases.

While other radiopharmaceuticals listed may also have important roles in PET imaging, they were approved later than 18F-FDG, which holds the distinction of being the first. 11C-Acetate, 82Rb, and Fluorodopa serve specific functions in PET but did not initiate the widespread use and acceptance of PET imaging in clinical settings like 18F-FDG did.