Positron emission tomography in oncology

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) is ahighly sensitive imaging tool that noninvasively characterizes metabolic processes and molecular targets. PET has become an integral part of oncological diagnostics and an increasingly important tool for oncological therapy management. PET assessment, for example, directly influences treatment escalation or de-escalation in context of Hodgkin lymphomas or is, in case of lung cancer, able to reduce unnecessary surgeries. Hence, molecular PET imaging represents an indispensable tool in the development of personalized treatments. Furthermore, the development of new radiotracers for specific cell surface structures offers apromising potential for diagnostics and-combined with therapeutic nuclides-also for therapies. One recent example are radioligands targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen, which are relevant in prostate cancer.