[18F]-labeled 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose: synthesis and preliminary biodistribution data.

A cyclotron target system for the production of anhydrous [18F] fluoride ion has been developed and used for the synthesis of carrier-free [18F]-3-deoxy-3fluoro-D-glucose (3-FDG). The synthesis is sufficiently rapid and efficient to allow production of usable amounts of 3-FDG with a 6-MeV cyclotron. Preliminary animal studies show that 3-FDG is in fact a glucose analog.