Amyloid PET conditional coverage

(Source – CMS.gov)

PET is a minimally-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure used to distinguish normal from diseased tissue in conditions such as cancer, ischemic heart disease, and some neurologic disorders.  A radioactive tracer (also called a radioisotope or radionuclide) is coupled to a biologically active molecule, and the resulting radiopharmaceutical is injected into the patient.  The tracer gives off subatomic particles (positrons) as it decays, which can be detected by a positron camera (tomograph).  Tracer concentration is then mapped in a three-dimensional image of the patient’s body.  One widely used, positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical is F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).  FDG PET is used clinically to help diagnose, exclude or stage multiple diseases, and to measure patient response to therapy.  Amyloid PET uses a new class of radiopharmaceuticals that detect levels of amyloid in human brain.  Measurements of cerebral amyloid may be clinically useful in the work up and management of patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for possible Alzheimer’s disease or other causes of cognitive decline. Read more…

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