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Reimbursement Information New CPT codes have been assigned by the American Medical Association (AMA) for PET and PET/CT scanning services! In an effort to keep you informed about these updates, we have listed the new CPT codes below. Type of Study CPT Code Tumor Imaging, base of skull-thigh 78815 Tumor Imaging, full body 78816 Brain Imaging, metabolic evaluation 78608 Brain Imaging, perfusion evaluation 78609 Myocardial Imaging, metabolic evaluation 78459 If you have any questions feel free to call us and we can help you properly protocol and code the study. Oncology Clinical Indications Brain Tumor • Differentiate recurrent tumor from radiation necrosis • Differentiate primary CNS lymphoma from toxoplasmosis • Exclude metastatic disease of the brain Breast Cancer • Identify involved axillary nodes or distant metastatic disease • Exclude local recurrence of disease • Evaluate response to treatment Cervical Cancer • Detect pre-treatment metastases in newly diagnosed cancer Colorectal Cancer • Detect locally recurrent or distant metastatic disease in patients with elevated or rising CEA who may be candidates for surgical re-excision • Rule out distant metastases for preoperative evaluation Esophageal Cancer • Evaluate local extent of disease, and exclude distant metastases • Evaluate disease to determine surgical appropriateness Head & Neck Cancer • Determine extent of local, regional, and distant disease • Detect recurrent/residual tumor following definitive therapy Lung Cancer • Distinguish malignant from benign pulmonary nodules • Stage for mediastinal or distant metastatic disease • Use as part of radiotherapy treatment planning • Detect recurrent/residual tumor following definitive therapy Lymphoma • Determine extent of disease • Measure treatment response Melanoma • Identify extent of local and regional disease spread in patients with high risk melanoma (e.g., primary tumor ≥4mm), or in suspected recurrence Musculoskeletal Tumors • Evaluate local extent of disease and exclude distant metastases • Measure treatment response and exclude recurrent/residual tumor following definitive therapy Ovarian Cancer • Detect recurrent/residual tumor prior to surgical exploration or additional chemotherapy Pancreatic Cancer • Differentiation of benign processes such as pancreatitis, mucinous cyst adenoma and pseudocyst from malignant disease • Rule out distant metastases for preoperative evaluation Thyroid Cancer • Detect metastatic or locally recurrent disease in patients with elevated thyroglobulin after definitive initial treatment and negative I-131 examination References Conti, P.S., Lilien, D.L., Howley, K., Keppler, J., Grafton, S.T., Bading, J., PET and F-18 FDG in Oncology: A Clinical Update. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, (1996) 23:717-735. Di Chiro, G., Positron Emission Tomography Using FDG in Brain Tumors: A Powerful Diagnostic and Prognostic Tool. Investigational Radiology,(1986) 2:360-371.