CMS reconsiders coverage for new PET uses

AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Jun 25, 2007

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has agreed to review current Medicare coverage for PET applications in inflammation and infection.

The CMS' decision follows a request to reconsider coverage for PET to diagnose chronic osteomyelitis, infections associated with hip arthroplasty, and fevers of unknown origin, each in lieu of bone, leukocyte, and/or gallium scintigraphy.

The request came from Dr. Abass Alavi, chief of the nuclear medicine section at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Javad Parvizi, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, both in Philadelphia.

CMS will take public comments on the issue until July 25 and could render its decision by the end of the year.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 26, 2007

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CMS extends NPI implementation deadline, April 3, 2007

CMS rescinds IDTF rule changes, February 19, 2007

Copyright © 2007 AuntMinnie.com

Examples in two patients. (Top) Abnormal leukocyte accumulation was observed in the right 1st to 5th toes, with the radioactive lesions extending to the bone, indicating osteomyelitis (left panel, MIP image; right panel, axial SPECT/CT). Two spherical VOIs were drawn on diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and the highest SUVmax was 4.2 (higher than the cutoff of 1.1) Despite intensive treatment, the infection progressed, leading to the patient undergoing right below knee amputation 43 days after SPECT/CT. (Bottom) Mild focal abnormal leukocyte accumulation was detected in the right 3rd and 4th toes. The lesions were in contact with the bone, which raised a suspicion of osteomyelitis (left panel, MIP image; right panel, axial SPECT/CT). A circular VOI was drawn on DFIs and the SUVmax was 1.0 (lower than the cutoff of 1.1). After 10 weeks of antibiotic treatment, the infection was successfully resolved, and the foot was preserved. Image and caption courtesy of Scientific Reports.

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