Florilglutamic acid enters cells through a transport system known as xC- (cystine/glutamate antiporter) which is more abundant in cancer tissue. Florilglutamic acid (18F) is a radioactive compound for use with an imaging method known as positron emission tomography (PET). When injected into the patient, florilglutamic acid (18F) is more effectively taken up by the cancer cells in the liver from where it is expected to emit radiation that can be detected in a PET scan, thereby allowing the cancer to be diagnosed. Orphan designation (EU/3/16/1632) was granted by the European Commission to Piramal Imaging GmbH, Germany, for florilglutamic acid (18F) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.