GLPwatch
FDG PET in a Patient on a GLP-1 Agonist/Insulin Secretagogue.
Clin Nucl Med · 2024
Last updated 2026-05-28A case report shows that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide may interfere with FDG PET scans, a type of imaging test, by increasing uptake in muscles and the heart. This can make the scan results harder to interpret. Doctors should consider this effect when reviewing such scans.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | Clin Nucl Med, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Relative citation ratio | 0.21 |
| NIH percentile | 13 |
| Molecules | — |
| Conditions studied | Type 2 Diabetes |
Abstract
With the increase in use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) in the population, nuclear medicine physicians should be aware of the possibility of nondiagnostic FDG PET scans due to these medications, which work partly by increasing insulin secretion. We demonstrate a case where a patient's use of such a medication presumptively led to muscular and myocardial uptake, complicating scan interpretation considerably. Clinicians should be aware of the presence of these drugs and their potential effect on biodistribution in FDG PET. Further study is needed to best understand the effects of these medications on FDG biodistribution.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 38914020 ↗