Deuterium metabolic imaging has emerged as a novel biomarker comparable ¹⁸FDG PET by adding quantitative metabolic kinetic capabilities.

Applications could go beyond ¹⁸FDG PET to include quantitative analysis of glycolytic pathways, determination of glutamate/glutamine (Glx), and lactate conversion. In DMI, 75g of dissolved sugar (glucose) is used, which has incorporated deuterium into the molecular structure.