PET Scans Shown to Be Beneficial for Cancer Diagnostics

A U.S. study demonstrating the beneficial impact of positron emission tomography (PET) scans for patients with ovarian, prostatic, pancreatic, and other cancers is an important reminder of the benefits of medical imaging technology.

"PET scans are just one of the many medical technologies that have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and this study should be strongly considered by the [U.S.] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as it makes future National Coverage Decisions,” said Andrew Whitman, vice president, the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA; Rossyln, VA, USA), a division of U.S. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). "MITA applauds the work of Dr. Bruce Hillner, [from the Medical College of Virginia Internal Medicine (Richmond, VA, USA)] and his team, which we hope will result in improved treatment and health outcomes for cancer patients with tumor types not currently on the "approved” Medicare list. These research findings remind us that it's critical that patients have access to innovative medical imaging technology to help fight cancer and other serious illnesses.”

Dr. Hillner's study revealed that the use of PET scans for cancer diagnosis, staging, restaging, and recurrence monitoring was associated with a strong reduction in unnecessary additional procedures. In the aggregate of cases with an initial treatment plan, referring physicians reported that PET scanning allowed them to avoid additional tests or procedures 77% of the time. Furthermore, for approximately three-quarters of cases in which a biopsy was the initial pre-PET recommendation, the procedure was ultimately avoided because of PET scanning.

This landmark coverage with an evidence development (CED) study is just the latest research to demonstrate the value of PET scanning in cancer diagnosis and treatment. For example, PET scans have also proven to generate an average savings of 13% through avoiding unnecessary surgery, hospital stays, and intensive care. "Now more than ever it's crucial that patients and policymakers alike look to studies like these as a reminder of why and how medical imaging improves patient health outcomes and reduces overall healthcare costs,” Mr. Whitman said.

The article appears in the April 30, 2008, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).


Related Links:
Medical College of Virginia Internal Medicine
Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance