Clinical Indications and Impact on Management: Fourth and Subsequent Posttherapy Follow-up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT Scans in Oncology Patients.

ABSTRACT: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage includes 3 posttherapy ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans per patient and per tumor type. Any additional follow-up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans will be reimbursed at the discretion of a local Medicare administrator, if deemed medically necessary. This study aimed to investigate common clinical indications for performing a fourth or additional follow-up ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans that could affect the management of patients. Methods: This was a retrospective institutional review of 433 oncology patients (203 men; mean age, 55 y), including a total of 1,659 fourth or subsequent follow-up PET/CT scans after completion of primary treatment. Twelve indications for performing a fourth or subsequent follow-up PET/CT scan were det

SUBMITTER: Taghipour M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5414499 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature