Fluoroestradiol F 18 is a prescription medicine (Radioactive Diagnostic Agent). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Cerianna
- Drug class
- Radioactive Diagnostic Agent
- Taken
- Intravenous
- Label
- GE Healthcare Inc., revised January 12, 2026 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- No · details
What it is used for
CERIANNA is indicated for use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for the detection of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive lesions as an adjunct to biopsy in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. CERIANNA is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated for use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for the detection of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive lesions as an adjunct to biopsy in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. ( 1 ) Limitations of Use Tissue biopsy should be used to confirm recurrence of breast cancer and to verify ER status by pathology. CERIANNA is not useful for imaging other receptors, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and the progesterone receptor (PR). ( 1 , 5.1 ) Limitations of Use Tissue biopsy should be used to confirm recurrence of breast cancer and to verify ER status by pathology. CERIANNA is not useful for imaging other receptors, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and the progesterone receptor (PR).
Forms and strengths
Injection: clear, colorless solution in a multiple-dose vial containing 148 MBq/mL to 3,700 MBq/mL (4 mCi/mL to 100 mCi/mL) of fluoroestradiol F 18 at end of synthesis. Injection: 148 MBq/mL to 3,700 MBq/mL (4 mCi/mL to 100 mCi/mL) of fluoroestradiol F 18 in a multiple-dose vial. ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
None . None. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
Risk of Misdiagnosis . Do not use CERIANNA in lieu of biopsy when biopsy is indicated in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Pathology or clinical characteristics that suggest a patient may benefit from systemic hormone therapy should take precedence over a discordant negative CERIANNA scan. ( 5.1 ) Radiation Risks . Ensure safe drug handling and patient preparation procedures to protect patients and health care providers from unintentional radiation exposure. ( 2.1 , 2.3 , 5.2 )
5.1 Risk of Misdiagnosis Inadequate Tumor Characterization and Other ER-Positive Pathology Breast cancer may be heterogeneous within patients and across time. CERIANNA images ER and is not useful for imaging other receptors such as HER2 and PR. The uptake of fluoroestradiol F 18 is not specific for breast cancer and may occur in a variety of ER-positive tumors that arise outside of the breast, including from the uterus and ovaries. Do not use CERIANNA in lieu of biopsy when biopsy is indicated in patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. False Negative CERIANNA Scan A negative CERIANNA scan does not rule out ER-positive breast cancer [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . Pathology or clinical characteristics that suggest a patient may benefit from systemic hormone therapy should take precedence over a discordant negative CERIANNA scan.
5.2 Radiation Risks Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including CERIANNA, expose patients to radiation [see Dosage and Administration (2.6) ] . Radiation exposure is associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of cancer. Ensure safe drug handling and patient preparation procedures to protect patients and health care providers from unintentional radiation exposure [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and (2.3) ] .
Side effects (adverse reactions)
Reported adverse reactions include: injection-site pain and dysgeusia ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact GE HealthCare at 1-800-654-0118 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety of CERIANNA was evaluated from published clinical studies of 1,207 patients with breast cancer receiving at least one fluoroestradiol F 18 administration. The following adverse reactions occurred at a rate < 1%: General disorders : injection-site pain Neurological and gastrointestinal disorders : dysgeusia
Drug interactions
Drugs that bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) may compete with the binding of fluoroestradiol F 18 and may reduce the detection of ER-positive lesions with CERIANNA. Before administering CERIANNA, discontinue drugs that bind to the ER, such as SERMs and SERDs, for at least 5 biological half-lives (e.g., elacestrant for 11 days, tamoxifen for 8 weeks, and fulvestrant for 28 weeks) [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . Before administering CERIANNA, discontinue drugs that bind to the ER, such as SERMs and SERDs, for at least 5 biological half-lives (e.g., elacestrant for 11 days, tamoxifen for 8 weeks, and fulvestrant for 28 weeks). ( 2.3 , 7 )
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
Lactation: Interrupt breastfeeding. Advise a lactating woman to avoid breastfeeding for 4 hours after CERIANNA administration. ( 8.2 )
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary All radiopharmaceuticals, including CERIANNA, have the potential to cause fetal harm depending on the fetal stage of development and the magnitude of radiation dose. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risks of fetal exposure to radiation from administration of CERIANNA. There are no available data on CERIANNA use in pregnant women. No animal reproduction studies using fluoroestradiol F 18 have been conducted to evaluate its effect on female reproduction and embryo-fetal development. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defects, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of fluoroestradiol F 18 in human milk, or its effects on the breastfed infant or milk production. Lactation studies have not been conducted in animals. Advise a lactating woman to avoid breastfeeding for 4 hours after CERIANNA administration in order to minimize radiation exposure to a breastfed infant.
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of CERIANNA in pediatric patients have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of fluoroestradiol F 18 injection did not reveal any difference in pharmacokinetics or biodistribution in patients aged 65 and over.
How it works
Fluoroestradiol F 18 binds ER. The following binding affinity: Kd = 0.13 ± 0.02 nM, Bmax = 1901 ± 89 fmol/mg, and IC 50 = 0.085 nM, was determined in an ER-positive human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).
Is there a generic Fluoroestradiol F 18?
No. The FDA has not approved a generic version yet.
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID b2c2a2df-cf3e-4a29-a033-231ed5a94b58.