PET scanning: worth the cost in cancer? Not only worth the cost, but sometimes a cost-cutter!

摘要

PRO: Over the last 2 decades, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning has evolved from a specialized imaging modality available at only a few select academic institutions into a widely available technology central to the evaluation and management of patients with known or suspected malignancy. This promulgation of PET imaging has not come in an explosive and uncontrolled fashion. Quite the contrary: each step forward in the acceptance of PET, and-equally importantly-the coverage of PET by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has come to be through the collec-tion and presentation of evidence in support of PET s role in oncology. In its most recent decision memo, CMS approved the use of PET for initial evaluation and subsequent evaluation of nearly all solid tumors, based on evidence provided by the National Oncologic PET Registry and others. [1]