Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a radiopharmaceutical used in medical imaging, particularly in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. FDG is a glucose analog, meaning it closely resembles glucose, the body's primary energy source. When administered to a patient, FDG is taken up by metabolically active cells, allowing healthcare professionals to visualize areas of high glucose uptake, which often correspond to regions of increased metabolic activity such as tumors.
