Abstract PET/CT is a powerful noninvasive tool that can rapidly provide three-dimensional views of disease deep within the body and can provide follow up assessment over time in one particular patient. Some PET tracers, such as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), have been found to be useful in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis for detection, assessing disease activity and monitoring response to therapy. The synthesis of the complex cell membrane of the bacilli for example can be imaged with 11C-choline or 18F-fluoroethylcholine PET/CT while the uptake of amino acids during cell growth can be imaged by 3’ -deoxy-3’ -[18F]fluoro-l-thymidine. The added value of FDG-PET/CT as a molecular imaging technique relies on its capability to identify disease in very early stages, long before the appearance of structural changes detectable by conventional imaging. Furthermore, by detecting the active phase of infectious or inflammatory processes, disease progression and treatment efficacy can be monitored. In this review, we highlight the various tracers that have been used in tuberculosis and explain the underlying mechanisms for their use. Keywords: PET/CT, Tuberculosis, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), 18F-fluoroethylcholine, 68Gacitrate

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