New PET Tracer Detects DVT and Pulmonary Embolism in One Scan

Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of clots in deep leg veins that can migrate to the lungs as pulmonary embolism. Rapid confirmation across both regions often requires multiple tests and can delay treatment. The condition affects about 900,000 people in the United States each year, underscoring the need for faster, comprehensive imaging. To help address this challenge, researchers have evaluated a thrombus-targeted positron emission tomography radiotracer designed to visualize clots throughout the body in a single scan.

The investigational agent, ¹⁸F‑GP1 used with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‑GP1 PET/CT), binds activated platelets within thrombus to enable direct visualization of acute clots. Investigators from the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea, described the approach and its clinical rationale. The work was presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), where the image set was named the Henry N. Wagner, Jr., Image of the Year.

In a phase 2, open‑label, non‑randomized study, 46 symptomatic patients underwent 18F‑GP1 PET/CT for suspected lower‑extremity deep vein thrombosis. Three blinded nuclear medicine physicians independently interpreted the scans. Diagnostic accuracy in the thigh was compared with venous ultrasound, while accuracy in the calf and the detection rate of concurrent pulmonary embolism were also assessed. Safety and tolerability of the radiotracer were monitored throughout the study.

¹⁸F‑GP1 PET/CT achieved high diagnostic accuracy for thrombus detection in the thigh and the calf. The scan also demonstrated a high detection rate for pulmonary embolism occurring alongside deep vein thrombosis. The radiotracer was well tolerated, with no drug‑related adverse events reported. Whole‑body imaging provides a comprehensive evaluation of the legs and lungs in one session, which may reduce the need for multiple tests.

Beyond deep vein thrombosis, ¹⁸F‑GP1 PET/CT has been studied in embolic stroke and cardiovascular disease. With additional validation in larger, multicenter phase 3 trials, the approach could enter routine clinical workflows within five to ten years. The meeting’s Image of the Year was selected from nearly 1,500 submitted abstracts.

“These findings suggest that a single whole-body PET scan could accurately evaluate clots in both the legs and lungs at the same time, potentially reducing the need for multiple tests while improving patient convenience,” said Sangwon Han, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine.

“This approach could serve as a platform technology for detecting clots throughout the body and even help to detect stroke or cardiovascular disease. These images show just how powerful molecular imaging can be,” said Giuseppe Esposito, MD, SNMMI Scientific Program Committee chair.

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Department of Nuclear Medicine at Asan Medical Center
SNMMI