170 SPECT AND PET RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTIOUS AND INFLAMMATORY FOCI

Aschalew Alemu Marie, Wanjeh David Mwanza, Toni Tripunoski, Paulina Efremova and *Emilija Janevik

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory disorders is still challenging. Molecular imaging using radiopharmaceuticals continues to play an important role in the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious and inflammatory disorders because it gives information about the site of the lesion and the molecular and functional patterns of the disorders. The aim of this review is to describe the strengths and limitations of these radiopharmaceuticals. Many radiopharmaceuticals have been developed. Even though none of them is ideal each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Many radiopharmaceuticals have been studied but still only few of them are in clinical practice today. Therefore, it is important to accelerate the development of clinically viable radiopharmaceuticals for this area.

Keywords: infection and inflammation, Radiopharmaceuticals.