Glucose is an important molecule for metabolism. It is more actively taken up in tumor cells than in normal cells, thus making it possible to detect the tumor. Radiolabeled glucose derivates have been successfully employed for tumor imaging for several decades. This review focuses on the development of various radiolabeled glucose derivatives as tumor imaging probes with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) and discusses basic research data, current status and future prospects of this class of imaging agents.

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