sodium fluoride F-18

A radiopharmaceutical consisting of the sodium salt of fluorine F 18 fluoride with radioisotopic and bone mineralizing activities. Fluoride binds to calcium ions in hydroxyapatite crystals in bone. The uptake and incorporation of positron-emitting fluorine F 18 fluoride into bone can be imaged using positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), allowing visualization of malignant bone lesions in which regional blood flow and bone turnover are increased.