Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has transformed from an interfering tissue in oncological ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to an independent imaging research field. This review takes the perspective from the imaging methodology on which human BAT research has come to rely on heavily.

This review analyses relevant PubMed-indexed publications that discuss molecular imaging methods of BAT. In addition, reported links between BAT and human diseases such as obesity are discussed, and the possibilities for imaging in these fields are highlighted. Radiopharmaceuticals aiming at several different biological mechanisms of BAT are discussed and evaluated.

Prospective, dedicated studies allow visualization of BAT function in a high percentage of human subjects. BAT dysfunction has been implicated in obesity, linked with diabetes and associated with cachexia and atherosclerosis. Presently, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is the most useful tool for evaluating therapies aiming at BAT activity. In addition to ¹⁸F-FDG, other radiopharmaceuticals such as ^99mTc-sestamibi, ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), ¹⁸F-fluorodopa and ¹⁸F-14(R,S)-[¹⁸F]fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid (FTHA) may have a potential for visualizing other aspects of BAT activity. MRI methods are under continuous development and provide the prospect of functional imaging without ionizing radiation.

Molecular imaging of BAT can be used to quantitatively assess different aspects of BAT metabolic activity.