Medicare Covers Three New PET Uses in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

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Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 8 No 4
Volume 8
Issue 4

WASHINGTON-Medicare will cover three additional uses of positron emission tomography (PET) for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In addition to the previously covered uses for the diagnostic evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules and for staging non-small-cell lung cancer, PET will now be covered for the detection and localization of recurrent colorectal cancer with rising CEA levels; the staging and characterization of both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in place of a gallium scan or lymphangiogram; and the identification of metastases in melanoma recurrence in place of gallium scans.

WASHINGTON—Medicare will cover three additional uses of positron emission tomography (PET) for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In addition to the previously covered uses for the diagnostic evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules and for staging non-small-cell lung cancer, PET will now be covered for the detection and localization of recurrent colorectal cancer with rising CEA levels; the staging and characterization of both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in place of a gallium scan or lymphangiogram; and the identification of metastases in melanoma recurrence in place of gallium scans.

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Post Office Boosts Breast Cancer Stamp
RT After Mastectomy Reduces Recurrence Risk
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Elderly May Do Well With Tamoxifen Without Surgery
Managing Respiratory Symptoms of Advanced Cancer
Results of Prevention Trials in Prostate, Colon, Breast Cancer
NABCO ‘Celebrates Life’ and Honors Breast Cancer Survivors at Luncheon
Multimodal Screening Strategy for Ovarian Cancer
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Modified Respiratory Therapy for Advanced Cancer Patients
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