The imaging results from FDG-PET scans change clinicians' decisions in the treatment and care for more than one in three cancer patients, according to data collected by the U.S. National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) and published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
In its analysis of approximately 23,000 patients in more than 1,200 PET facilities nationwide, the NOPR study found that FDG-PET prompted changes in care decisions in 36.5% of patient cases.
The NOPR was formed at the request of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and in May 2006 began to collect data through a clinical registry and provide the agency with information for its FDG-PET coverage determination decisions for currently noncovered cancer indications.
The CMS will review the data and determine the next steps regarding reimbursement for PET scans now only covered through the NOPR.
The NOPR is sponsored by the Academy of Molecular Imaging and managed by the American College of Radiology and the ACR Imaging Network (ACRIN).
Related Reading
NOPR releases preliminary results of PET treatment strategies, January 11, 2008
PET changes oncology management, study shows, July 19, 2007
NOPR opens, with modifications, May 9, 2006
ACR and ACRIN to launch PET registry in May, April 27, 2006
PET registry primed for takeoff, March 27, 2006
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