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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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F 18 sodium fluoride positron emission tomography  listen  (… SOH-dee-um FLOOR-ide PAH-zih-tron ee-MIH-shun toh-MAH-gruh-fee)

  A procedure used to find out if cancer has spread to the bone. A small amount of a radioactive substance called fluorine F 18 sodium fluoride is injected into a vein. A PET scan is then used to make detailed pictures of the bones. Bones with cancer in them take up more fluorine F18 sodium fluoride than normal bones do. Also called F-18 NaF PET and fluorine F 18 sodium fluoride PET.