Oncologic Applications of PET Scanning - CAM 759
Policy
General Notes:
Adult and Pediatric Malignancies: ONCOLOGICAL PET IS INDICATED FOR BIOPSY-PROVEN CANCER OR STRONGLY SUSPECTED CANCER BASED ON OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. The appropriateness of an ordered PET/CT study is dependent on which radiopharmaceutical will be used for the PET/CT.
FDG-PET/CT (fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography)
Lung nodule seen on LDCT or CT+ contrast (without known malignancy)
- Solid component of dominant nodule (either solitary or clearly dominant) ≥ 8 mm and < 3 cm or part solid/mixed nodules with the solid component 8 mm or larger
- Mixed nodule (i.e., ground glass and solid nodule) with solid component of the nodule ≥ 4 mm on LDCT when there has been
- Interval growth of the solid component of at least 1.5 mm on subsequent LDCT scans OR
- Interval development of a new mixed nodule on subsequent LDCT with the solid nodule component ≥ 4 mm
NOTE: > 3 cm is considered a mass; therefore, a tissue type is usually needed prior to PET (to determine if SCLC or NSCLC). However, if the chest CT imaging findings meet criteria for limited stage SCLC and no prior imaging shows metastatic disease elsewhere, PET can be approved prior to biopsy in order to guide biopsy of any FDG-avid adenopathy at the same time the primary is biopsied. If disease clearly is in both sides of the chest and/or outside the chest, then PET is not needed/approvable prior to tissue diagnosis.
Useful Definitions (to aid in using the following table[s])
- Initial staging refers to imaging that is performed AFTER the diagnosis of cancer is made, and generally before any treatment.
- Restaging includes scans that are either needed during active treatment* (subsequent treatment strategy**) to determine response to treatment, within 6 months after the end of treatment, or when there is clinical concern for recurrence (i.e., new imaging, new signs, rising labs/tumor markers or symptoms relative to type of cancer and entire clinical picture) (recurrence is not required to be biopsy proven)
- *Active treatment includes traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, as well as patients on “maintenance therapy” who have known, or existing, metastatic disease being held in check by this treatment. Allogenic bone marrow transplant and CART T-cell therapy should be considered "active" treatment for at least 6 months after infusion/transplant and as such can be approved at 30 days, 100 days, and 6 months after the most recent infusion.
- **Subsequent treatment strategy
- For restaging or monitoring response during active treatment (including immunotherapy), and/or a single evaluation after completion/cessation of therapy. The interval should ideally‡ be 6 – 12 weeks after surgery, and 12 weeks after radiation (to avoid false positive findings that can be caused by treatment changes or healing).
- PET/CT can be performed 1 – 3 weeks after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemoradiation if done for presurgical planning to evaluate for distant metastatic disease or to evaluate known metastatic disease located in areas separate from the site(s) being radiated.
‡NOTE: a valid clinical reason explaining why the interval needs to be shorter than ideal must be present
- Inconclusive imaging — see Background section at end of guidelines
- Surveillance PET is generally not approvable. Surveillance means no active treatment, no current suspicion of recurrence and occurs 6 months or more after completion of treatment. Possible exceptions† where PET “may be considered” for surveillance:
- Ewing’s
- Osteosarcoma
- Breast (Stage 4)
- Cervical (Stage 2 – 4)
- Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma when disease was only seen previously on PET
- Histiocytic neoplasms every 3-6 months for the first 2 years post completion of treatment
- Melanoma (Stage 2b – 4)
- Myeloma/plasmacytoma (ideally use same type imaging as was used in initial dx, up to 5 yrs after the diagnosis of plasmacytoma)
- Seminoma (Stage 2b, 2c and 3)
†NOTE: These cases would need to include a clinical reason why PET is needed (i.e., being considered), rather than conventional imaging (CT, MRI, bone scan). Generally, this would be accepted only when ordered by the treating oncologist or clearly at their recommendation (not as routine follow-up ordered by PCP).
FDG PET
ONCOLOGICAL INDICATIONS FOR FDG PET
(SEE SPECIAL TRACERS SECTIONS FOR INDICATIONS OTHER TRACERS)
CANCER TYPE |
INITIAL STAGING |
RESTAGING |
Adrenal (other than pheochromocytoma/ paraganglioma) |
Not Indicated |
Not Indicated |
AIDS-related Kaposi Sarcoma |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Not Indicated |
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) |
Lymphomatous extramedullary disease |
Lymphomatous extramedullary disease |
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) |
If suspected extramedullary involvement |
If suspected/known extramedullary involvement |
Anal (Note that normal size pelvic adenopathy can be considered as inconclusive) |
With prior inconclusive imaging (can be done with PET (PET/CT or PET/MR‡‡ if available)) |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Basal Cell (BCC of the skin) |
Not Indicated |
Not Indicated |
Bladder |
Muscle invasive only, with prior inconclusive imaging |
With inconclusive imaging and supected metastatic disease or recurrence outside of the urinary tract |
Breast |
Indicated for stage IIb and above (if only T and N are provided, this equates to T3 (tumor > 50 mm); or T4 (tumor of any size with direct extension to chest wall and/or skin); or N2 (> 3 axillary LN, ipsilateral internal mammary node); or the combination of T2 (tumor > 20 mm but < 50 mm) plus N1 (any positive lymph node involvement) |
With prior inconclusive imaging, if initial stagging was performed with PET OR if recurs with llb or higher disease (based pathology/imaging/exam) since no previous initial staging would have typicall been performed for lower grade breast cancer |
Cervical |
Indicated (can consider PET/MR‡‡ if available) |
Indicated |
Chordoma |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Cholangiocarcinoma |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Chondrosarcoma (bone) |
Not Indicated |
Not Indicated |
Colorectal |
With prior inconclusive imaging OR potentially surgically curable M1 disease OR when considered for image-guided liver-directed therapies |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Endometrial |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Esophogeal and EGJ (esophagogastric junction epicenter < 2m into stomach) |
Indicated |
Indicated |
Ewing Sarcoma — osseous |
Indicated (all ages) |
Patients < 30 yrs old: Indicated Patients > 30 yrs old: Indicated for known or suspected metastatic disease (based on PE/imaging) |
Fallopian Tube Cancer |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Gallbladder |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
GASTRIC (include EGJ tumors with epicenter > 2 cm into stomach) |
With prior inconclusive imaging or if radiation is being considered (Not indicated for T1N0M0 or M1) |
With prior inconclusive imaging, PET/CT is indicated for post radiation imaging |
Gestational Trophoblastic Cancer |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Head and neck (including mucosal melanoma of the head and neck) |
Indicated
|
Indicated
|
Hepatocellular |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
with prior inconclusive imaging |
Leukemia (refer to specific types listed in table when possible) |
If there is lymph node involvement (lymphomatous features), soft tissue and/or extramedullary involvement (myeloid sarcoma) and/or if forms “chloromas” (leukemia tumor balls) |
If there is lymph node involvement (lymphomatous features), soft tissue and/or extramedullary involvement (myeloid sarcoma) and/or if forms “chloromas” (leukemia tumor balls) |
Lung
|
Indicated Indicated Not indicated |
Indicated Indicated Not indicated |
Lymphocytic Leukemia
|
For suspected high-grade transformation or to guide biopsy with prior inconclusive imaging |
With accelerated CLL or to guide biopsy with prior inconclusive imaging (includes negative CT with rising tumor markers or if conventional imaging documents mets, If clearly considering resection) |
Lymphoma (Non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins) |
Indicated (can consider PET/MR‡‡) |
Indicated (can consider PET/MR‡‡) |
Melanoma (See Uveal melanoma below for indications) |
Only stage III, IV indicated |
Only stage III, IV indicated |
Merkel Cell |
Indicated |
Indicated |
Mesothelioma (malignant)
|
|
|
Multiple Myeloma
|
|
|
Neuroblastoma |
Indicated when MIBG is negative, inconclusive, or there are discordant findings between MIBG and pathology |
Indicated when the FDG PET was used for initial staging or if MIBG has become inconclusive or discordant |
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) Undifferentiated/Differentiated (including pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, extrapulmonary large/small cell) |
Indicated if used after prior negative or inconclusive Ga68 Dotatate scan |
Indicated when FDG was used for initial staging, or when used after prior negative/inconclusive Ga68 Dotatate scan (or MIBG scan) OR after inconclusive conventional imaging |
Ovarian |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
with prior inconclusive imaging |
Occult primary |
With prior inconclusive imaging appropriate to pathology of the biopsy that identified the occult malignancy |
with prior inconclusive imaging |
Osteosarcoma
|
For patients > 30 years old: Indicated when the prior bone scan is inconclusive or negative (i.e., the primary bone tumor is not seen on bone scan). PET can be approved in conjunction with MR of primary site For patients < 30 years old: Indicated PET can be approved in conjunction with MR of primary site |
For patients > 30 yrs old: Indicated when disease is positive on prior FDG-PET or when there is inconclusive conventional imaging. PET can be approved in conjunction with MR of primary site
For patients < 30 years old: Indicated |
Pancreatic |
With prior inconclusive imaging
|
When PET was used for initial staging and need to assess response to treatment in order to determine if now a surgical candidate
|
Penile |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Peritoneal Cancer (Primary) |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) |
Indicated when the diagnosis is made OR if suspected based on abnormal PE, abnormal imaging or abnormal labs (i.e., significantly elevated or rising viral titers) |
Indicated |
Prostate (FDG PET only) *See other PET tracer section below for prostate cancer* |
Not Indicated |
Not Indicated
|
Renal |
ONLY when conventional imaging is equivocal for metastatic disease and if present would alter initial treatment plan |
ONLY when conventional imaging is clearly insufficient in these circumstances:
|
Skin Squamous Cell |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Not Indicated |
Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma |
Not Indicated |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Soft Tissue Sarcoma (including soft tissue/extraosseous Ewing sarcoma and soft tissue/extraosseous osteosarcoma)/GIST/ Rhabdomyosarcoma) |
For patients > 30 years old: with prior inconclusive imaging For patients < 30 years old: Indicated (does not require inconclusive conventional imaging) |
For patients > 30 yrs old with prior inconclusive imaging For patients < 30 years old: Indicated (does not require inconclusive conventional imaging) |
Testicular
|
Not Indicated |
with prior inconclusive imaging or residual mass >3cm or 6 weeks post chemotherapy (If final PET/CT is equivocal or borderline for residual disease PET/CT, a repeat PET/CT a > 6 weeks may help identify those that can be safely observed without additional surgery) Not Indicated |
Thymoma and Thymic Cancer |
Indicated |
Indicated |
Thyroid
|
|
Indicated with the following 3 criteria:
IF Tg is high and/or pathology is high-risk With prior inconclusive imaging With prior inconclusive imaging when calcitonin levels ≥ 150 pg/ml or CEA levels > 5 ng/ml post-surgery with prior insufficient Dotatate scan |
Uterine |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Uveal Melanoma |
Not Indicated |
With prior inconclusive imaging |
Vaginal |
Indicated |
Indicated |
Vulvar |
≥ T2 or after prior inconclusive imaging |
Indicated |
MISCELLANEOUS (NON-ONCOLOGIC) INDICATIONS FOR FDG PET
(excluding brain and cardiac PET which have separate guidelines)
CANCER TYPE | INITIAL STAGING | RESTAGING |
CASTLEMAN’S DISEASE | Indicated | Indicated |
HISTIOCYTIC NEOPLASMS:
|
|
|
*SARCOIDOSIS
|
||
*VASCULITIS
*Adjudications should occur on a case-by-case basis |
NON-FDG PET TRACERS
GA68-DOTATATE, GA68-DOTATOC and CU64-DOTATATE FOR NET (Neuroendocrine Tumors) |
||
CANCER TYPE | INITIAL STAGING | RESTAGING |
CARCINOID EXTRAPULMONARY LARGE AND SMALL CELL MEN-1/MEN-2 SYNDOMES NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS (NET) PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA PARAGANGLIOMA |
|
|
MEDULLARY THYROID |
Prior CT/ MRI insufficient to
|
When calcitonin levels ≥ 150 pg/ml or CEA levels > 5 ng/ml post-surgery |
PSMA TRACERS (such as F18 piflufolastat [Pylarify®], GA 68 PSMA-11, GA 68 gozetotide [Locametz®], and GA 68 gozetotide [Illuccix®]); F18 FLUCICLOVINE (AXUMIN®) and C11 CHOLINE For PROSTATE CANCER |
||
CANCER | INITIAL STAGING | RESTAGING |
PROSTATE
|
Only PSMA (not Axumin® or Choline) is indicated in initial staging for high risk; defined as 1 or more of the following:
**The Primary Pattern refers to the 1st number in the Gleason Pattern |
For post-surgery/radiation in suspected recurrence with at least two separate detectable PSA levels above the nadir for that patient for:
|
Pelvic MRI can be approved concurrently if needed for surgical planning |
For post surgery/radiation in known recurrence, PSMA is approvable if:
For metastatic castrate resistant disease that have failed both taxanes and ARDI, PSMA is approvable if:
|
BACKGROUND
Inconclusive Imaging includes the following:
- Equivocal or ambiguous other prior standard imaging if results will change management
- Biopsy guidance (e.g., tumors with necrosis)
- High suspicion of metastases due to clinical or histopathological or laboratory considerations but with no evidence of metastases on standard initial staging
- Clinical or laboratory disease progression with negative standard imaging
- Contraindications to IV contrast, including allergy and chronic renal failure precluding MRI in a patient with a known or highly suspected malignancy
- PET/CT may be indicated if CT cannot be performed due to significant iodinated contrast allergy or chronic renal failure AND MRI cannot be performed due to significant gadolinium contrast allergy or if renal failure with GFR < 30 (RSNA, 2018).
- Evaluation for other distant metastases prior to surgical resection of limited metastases/local disease and otherwise negative prior standard imaging
- Response to neoadjuvant therapy when CT/MR insufficient
- Residual masses after completion of therapy
- Target definition for radiation planning
- If previous conventional imaging has been inconclusive, and it seems reasonable to expect that to still be the case, new conventional imaging is NOT required
In situations where there is questionable disease in an area that requires significantly invasive procedures to obtain tissue (such as open surgical procedures), and malignancy is high on the radiographic differential diagnosis, it is reasonable and medically appropriate to attempt to gain as much information about diagnosis from imaging prior to subjecting the patient to tissue diagnosis that has real risk of morbidity/mortality.
Definition of Disease Progression:
For any signs of progression, as noted below, that could not be confirmed by other imaging, PET/CT is needed. Findings concerning for progression of disease include:
- Worsening of symptoms such as pain or dyspnea
- Evidence of worsening or new disease on physical examination
- Declining performance status
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increasing alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), or bilirubin
- Hypercalcemia
- New radiographic abnormality or increase in the size of pre-existing radiographic abnormality
- New areas of abnormality on functional imaging (e.g., bone scan, PET/CT)
- Increasing tumor markers (e.g., carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 15-3, CA27.29)
PET/CT also helps to differentiate active tumor from necrotic or inactive scar tissue, malignant from benign tissue, and recurrent tumor from nondescript benign changes.
Positron emission tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is a rapidly developing and changing technology that is able to detect biochemical reactions, e.g., metabolism, or abnormal distribution of cell receptors within body tissues. A radioactive tracer is used during the procedure. Unlike other nuclear medicine examinations, PET/CT can measure metabolic activity of the cells of body tissues, providing information about the functionality and structure of the particular organ or tissue examined. PET/CT may also detect biochemical changes that help to evaluate malignant tumors and other lesions.
TYPICALLY, separate CT/MR scans being requested concurrently with a PET are not needed. There should be very few instances where separate studies are needed, and when this does happen, it is usually SITE-SPECIFIC. Most PET scanners now in use can "simultaneously" perform PET and CT (whether CT Attenuation or a Diagnostic CT). Contrast can be given for the CT portion of the PET/CT. A separate request for diagnostic CTs in addition to PET is therefore not needed. The ordering MDO can specify to the imaging provider details about what type of CT scan is desired to be done with the PET portion. "Exceptions" generally occur when CT is needed in a plane other than standard axial imaging (for example: coronal CT for facial bone imaging that might be needed for surgical reconstruction). Separate MRIs are likewise rarely needed, but are perhaps somewhat more frequently needed than additional, separate CTs, since MRI does allow multiple imaging planes and may provide additional information. When evaluating for these "exceptions", the reason additional separate imaging is needed should be clearly delineated before approval.
The degree of radioactive tracer uptake may indicate increased metabolism in the cells of body tissues or an abnormal distribution of cell receptors. Cancer cells may show increased radioactive tracer relative to tissue not involved with tumor. Radioactive tracer uptake is often higher in fast-growing tumors; PET/CT is often not as beneficial for slow growing tumors. Radioactive tracer uptake may occur in various types of active inflammation and is not specific for cancer. FDG is the most widely known and frequently requested radiotracer; however, the use of "special tracers" is a rapidly progressing field. These "special tracers" are typically somewhat specific to a certain cancer type due to their physiological properties. As such, a particularly careful review should be made when there is concern that a "special tracer" is needed or requested, regardless of whether the ST icon is present. If the notes clearly indicate the desired tracer (and guidelines are met for the tracer and cancer type), the case should be adjudicated according to the notes rather than the presence or absence of the ST icon. However, if the notes do not clearly indicate what tracer is requested, this needs to be clarified when there is discrepancy between notes and the ST icon (or lack thereof).
Patients with certain malignancies may benefit more from PET/MRI since it detects brain and liver metastases better when compared with PET/CT. NCCN does suggest consideration of PET/MR in some malignancies (see table for specific cancers), but not specifically replacing PET/CT. PET/MRI should only be considered for certain malignancies and in specific situations (such as when extensive travel would be needed, for pediatric cases, particularly those requiring sedation or when reasonably expect a need for multiple PET scans where radiation exposure from CT would be a significant factor). Typically, PET/CT should suffice; however, under some circumstances, with clear explanation of why PET/MR is preferred rather than PET/CT, PET/MR may be an appropriate study‡‡ (NCCN, 2020).
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (Jessop, 2020; Daldrup-Link, 2001; Obert, 2017; Phillips, 2009) is the most common type of histiocytosis, with variable presentations and sites involvement. The osseous structures are the most common site of involvement. PET/CT is highly sensitive and specific for whole body evaluation as FDG is a metabolite of the histocyte cell and allows for a reproducible evaluation for response to effectiveness of treatment on restaging exams. Some studies suggest PET/CT may be more effective in detecting bone lesions compared with MRI and bone scans in assessing disease response as healing/treatment changes of bone lesions on conventional imaging maybe delayed. PET/CT is, however, not the modality of choice in assessing disease response of lung or brain lesions; in these scenarios, Chest CT (HRCT) and Brain MRI would be the test of choice, respectively.
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- Robertson NL, Hricak H, Sonoda Y, et al. The impact of FDG-PET/CT in the management of patients with vulvar and vaginal cancer. Gynecol Oncol. March 2016; 140(3):420-424.
- Scheier BY, Lao CD, Kidwell KM, et al. Use of preoperative PET/CT staging in sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma. JAMA Oncol. 2016 Jan; 2(1):136-7.
- Sekine T, Barbosa FG, Sah BR, et al. PET/MR outperforms PET/CT in suspected occult tumors. Clin Nucl Med. 2017;42:e88–95
- Sherry SJ, Tahari AK, Mirpour S, et al. FDG-PET/CT in the evaluation of paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. Imaging Med. 2014; 6(1):117-26.
- Siva S, Herschtal A, Thomas J, et al. Impact of post-therapy positron emission tomography on prognostic stratification and surveillance after chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer. Cancer. 2011; 117(17):3981-3988. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25991.
- Smallridge RC, Ain KB, Asa SL, et al. American Thyroid Association guidelines for management of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2012; 22(11):1104.
- Songmen S, Nepal P, Olsavsky T, et al. Axumin positron emission tomography: Novel agent for prostate cancer biochemical recurrence. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2019; 9:49.
- Spick C, Herrmann K, Czernin J. 18F-FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI Perform Equally Well in Cancer: Evidence from Studies on More Than 2,300 Patients. J Nucl Med. 2016 Mar;57(3):420-30. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.115.158808. Epub 2016 Jan 7. PMID: 26742709; PMCID: PMC5003572.
- Srirajaskanthan R, Kayani I, Quigley AM, et al. The Role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors and Negative or Equivocal Findings on 111 In-DTPA-Octreotide Scintigraphy. J Nucl Med. 2010; 51:875-882. doi: 10.2967/jnumed.109.06613.
- Varadhachary GR, Raber MN. Cancer of unknown primary site. N Engl J Med. 2014 Aug 21; 371(8):757-65.
- Wells SA Jr, Asa SL, Dralle H, et al. Revised American Thyroid Association guidelines for the management of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid. June 2015; 25(6):567-610.
This medical policy was developed through consideration of peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, U.S. FDA approval status, nationally accepted standards of medical practice and accepted standards of medical practice in this community, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association technology assessment program (TEC) and other non-affiliated technology evaluation centers, reference to federal regulations, other plan medical policies, and accredited national guidelines.
"Current Procedural Terminology © American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved"
History From 2014 Forward
11/17/2022 | Annual review, adding note for lung nodule and updating surveillance criteria for clarity and specificity. |
11/01/2021 |
Annual review, adding statements regarding CAR-T therapy and medical necessity criteria for PTLD. Also updating description and references. |
01/26/2021 |
Updating annual review date. |
11/17/2020 |
Annual review with major format revision to a table format. Also multiple policy revisions related to NCCN recommendation changes. Updating description and references. |
02/13/2020 |
Annual review, no change to policy intent. Updating rationale and references. |
02/07/2019 |
Major revision of content for clarity without change to policy intent. |
04/10/2018 |
Interim review to add medical necessity verbiage for Axumin (fluciclovine F 18) and a statement directing readers to CAM 512 as it relates to reimbursement for radiopharmaceuticals related to PET scanning. |
03/15/2018 |
Annual review, policy revised to indicate the following: "Additional details added to policy statements. Updated guidelines, rationale and references |
02/06/2017 |
Annual review, no change to policy intent. |
02/17/2016 |
Annual review, no change to policy intent. |
03/05/2015 |
Annual review, added verbiage related to medical necessity related to gastric cancer, added related policies and coding. Updated guidelines, rationale and references. |
09/11/2014 |
Corrected typo error. No change in policy. |
02/24/2014 |
Annual review. Updated rationale and references. Changing policy verbiage to indicate initial treatment strategy for breast cancer & melanoma is investigational. |
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