Highlights
- Fast whole-body planar PET imaging for efficient preclinical screening
- Representative applications across different radionuclides and biological models
- Visualization of pulmonary distribution, lymphatic pathways and skeletal uptake
- Short acquisition workflows supporting rapid assessment of radiotracer distribution
Introduction
Planar PET imaging provides a fast and straightforward approach for visualizing whole-body radiotracer distribution in preclinical studies. Short acquisitions can support rapid screening across a range of biological models and research questions, while providing spatial information on tracer localization and redistribution.
This application brings together representative planar imaging studies spanning pulmonary radiocontamination, lymphatic imaging and skeletal distribution.
Representative applications
Pulmonary distribution of ⁸⁹Zr following intratracheal administration
Planar PET imaging was used as part of a murine model developed to investigate radionuclide lung contamination and subsequent redistribution.
⁸⁹Zr was administered by intratracheal instillation to Swiss-Webster mice and PET imaging was performed immediately following administration and again 24 h later. The initial scans confirmed deposition of the radiometal in the lungs, while activity was also visible along the trachea, mouth and nasal passage.
At 24 h, considerable activity remained in the lungs, while skeletal signal became visible as unchelated ⁸⁹Zr redistributed from the initial contamination site. PET-derived measurements were also consistent with subsequent ex vivo biodistribution determined by gamma counting.
The study demonstrates how planar PET can provide rapid, non-invasive visualization of both initial radionuclide deposition and subsequent whole-body redistribution.
Figure 1: ⁸⁹Zr pulmonary contamination model. Image info: 24 h post administration – 5 min scan – 3.7 MBq administered activity
Reference: Arino T. et al., A Murine Model of Radionuclide Lung Contamination for the Evaluation of Americium Decorporation Treatments, Radiation Research, 2025.
⁶⁸Ga-FAPI imaging of lymphatic pathways
Planar PET imaging enabled visualization of lymphatic distribution and sentinel lymph node localization using a ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI radiotracer.
Figure 2: Sentinel lymph node imaging with ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI. Image info: 1 h post injection – 10 min acquisition – 3 MBq injected activity
Free ¹⁸F skeletal distribution
Whole-body planar PET imaging enabled visualization of free ¹⁸F accumulation in skeletal structures, providing a straightforward example of tracer distribution to bone tissue.
Figure 3: Free ¹⁸F accumulation in bone. Image info: 1 h post injection – 10 min scan – 2.59 MBq injected activity
Conclusion
These representative studies demonstrate the versatility of planar PET imaging across different radionuclides, biological models and research questions.
Rapid whole-body acquisitions enable visualization of radiotracer localization and redistribution, supporting efficient preclinical screening across applications ranging from pulmonary and lymphatic pathways to skeletal uptake.