The most commonly used compound in hyperpolarized carbon-13 imaging is [1-13C]pyruvate. Pyruvate is a key metabolite in cellular respiration and is heavily involved in cancer metabolism. When hyperpolarized, [1-13C]pyruvate provides significant insights into the metabolic pathways active within tumors. Other compounds, such as [1-13C]lactate and [1-13C]alanine, are also being explored for their potential to provide additional metabolic information.
