Recent Advances in PET Imaging for Skeletal Surgery Applications

A number of patents on PET imaging have been reviewed with the intention of highlighting those that have applications to bone imaging for skeletal surgery applications. The factors influencing radionuclide uptake into skeletal structure are introduced as well as the basics of PET imaging and its effect on skeletal image appearance. The patents are separated into three groups, PET imaging and detection, Radiopharmaceuticals, and labeling methods, and reviewed based on practical applicability to skeletal imaging and potential to use the image for guiding skeletal surgery. The patents that have the most potential for use in guiding skeletal surgery are those that involve the use of a radiopharmaceutical that absorbs into the bone in areas of increased metabolic activity to highlight focused bone disease, abnormalities or growth. The analysis suggests that PET imaging with FDG and NaF have high sensitivity and specificity and has the potential for guiding surgery applications.