Non-FDG PET Tracers for TB Imaging

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging provides a noninvasive whole-body molecular imaging tool, and TB imaging with FDG has gradually been establishing itself in the settings of detection of especially extrapulmonary disease involvement as well as in the monitoring of treatment response. However, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) imaging still suffers from several limitations, which creates the need for non-FDG PET tracers. The underlying pathophysiology and intended therapeutic drugs provide various targets for such imaging. Although there is a multitude of tracer possibilities, this chapter will start with an outline of some of the most recent developments in terms of preclinical and research targets, and then focus on a few of the tracers that have been successfully applied in a reasonable number of patients.