Internal medicine

Radiology

Prostate cancer

Fluoride

Nuclear medicine

Pet imaging

Orthopedic surgery

Cancer

PET-CT

Magnetic resonance imaging

Surgery

Inorganic chemistry

Chemistry

Positron emission tomography

Sodium fluoride

Medicine

PET Clinics

PET imaging with 18F-sodium fluoride (NaF), combined with computed tomography or magnetic resonance, is a sensitive method of assessing bone turnover. Although NaF-PET is gaining popularity in detecting prostate cancer metastases to bone marrow, osseous changes represent secondary effects of cancer cell growth. PET tracers more appropriate for assessing prostate cancer metastases directly portray malignant activity and include 18F-fluciclovine and prostatic specific membrane antigen ligands. Recent studies investigating NaF-PET suggest utility in the assessment of benign musculoskeletal disorders. Emerging applications in assessing traumatic injuries, joint disease, back pain, orthopedic complications, and metabolic bone disease are discussed.

Novel Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Applications of 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET