Synthesis of [18F]fluoro-pivalic acid: an improved PET imaging probe for the fatty acid synthesis pathway in tumours

[F-18]Fluoro-pivalic acid ([F-18]FPIA), an analogue of [F-18]fluoroacetate bearing a dimethyl moiety on C-2, has been radiosynthesised and evaluated in vivo. [F-18]FPIA has high tumour uptake and, unlike [F-18]fluoroacetate, does not defluorinate.