The rapidly increasing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may be distorting the results of oncological PET-CT scans. This significant finding was announced by scientists from Alliance Medical Ltd. at the annual congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM 2025).
GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide and liraglutide, influence glucose metabolism and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This interaction leads to an atypical distribution of radiotracers during PET-CT imaging. Researchers observed an increased accumulation of these tracers in muscles, the heart, and brown adipose tissue – an effect that could be erroneously interpreted as a tumor or inflammation.
The authors underscored a critical concern: the current absence of national and international guidelines for interpreting scans from patients on GLP-1 therapies. This lack of guidance can lead to misdiagnoses, unnecessary further examinations, and undue stress for patients. Instead of suggesting the discontinuation of these beneficial therapies, the scientists urge radiologists to factor in a patient`s history of GLP-1 medication use when analyzing PET-CT results to ensure accurate diagnoses.
It`s worth noting that this isn`t the first unexpected effect attributed to this class of drugs. In late September, researchers also discovered that the use of Ozempic and similar GLP-1 class medications could increase the risk of hair loss.
