Definition

A radioactive form of glucose used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. 18F-fludeoxyglucose gets taken up by cells in the body, and a PET scanner is used to find which cells in the body have taken it up. Since more 18F-fludeoxyglucose is taken up by abnormal cells, including cancer cells, than by normal cells, it can be used to find cancer cells in the body and to diagnose cancer and other conditions. Also called fluorine F 18-fludeoxyglucose.