When is a PET/CT indicated?
PET/CT is helpful in diagnosing, staging, restaging, as well as monitoring treatment response in a number of types of cancers:

	To Diagnose lung, colorectal, esophageal, head and neck cancers, as well as lymphoma
	To Stage and Restage (determine the extent of) lung, breast, colorectal, thyroid, head and neck cancers, as well as lymphoma and melanoma
	Evaluate response to therapy for breast cancer
	Neurology indications include pre-surgical evaluation for the purpose of localization of a focus of refractory seizure activity and in Alzheimer’s disease for differential diagnosis of fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) under specific requirements.
	Cardiology patients - to provide the highest level of any noninvasive cardiac test into blood flow and heart muscle (myocardial) function to delineate blood-flow patterns, assess the viability of the heart muscle, and determine the optimal treatment.

PET/CT is under investigation for kidney, pancreas, ovarian, cervical, musculoskeletal, testicular, and unknown primary cancers, as well as monitoring treatment response in currently approved types of cancers.

What is needed to schedule a PET/CT scan?
Before scheduling a PET/CT scan, your referring physician must FAX a requisition form to the PET/CT Imaging Center. Once we obtain the necessary documentation, a PET/CT Center coordinator will schedule a time for the appointment.

Necessary documentation includes:
	A signed requisition by the ordering physician
	Contact information, address, and medical history
	Insurance benefits, eligibility, and pre-certification when required
	A convenient time and date for your PET/CT
	Instructions on how to prepare for your scan
	Directions to our center

You will be asked to bring films and/or a CD-ROM from prior diagnostic studies, such as CT and/or MRI images.

Information about PET/CT appointments or for further information about our Center, please contact us at:
(618) 236-9770.

How are results received?
Once our specially-trained physicians have reviewed the PET/CT images with your previous related diagnostic test reports and films, they will dictate a detailed report explaining their findings. A preliminary report is faxed to your ordering physician within 2-3 working days following your exam. In addition, a final report accompanying your images will be sent to your ordering physician’s office. Any outside films are returned at that time. Your ordering physician will review the PET/CT findings with you.

Will my insurance cover the procedure?
Many private insurance companies and Medicare provide coverage for some PET/CT procedures, depending on the diagnosis. PET/CT staff can work with you to verify benefits, eligibility and authorizations, if necessary. The staff will also submit claims as needed for your PET/CT scan, you are responsible for the payment of any amount not expected to be paid by your insurance company, such as deductibles, co-payments, unless prior arrangements have been made. Please contact your insurance company before your appointment to confirm reimbursement.

For Medicare patients, The National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) was developed in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal to expand coverage for FDG-PET to include cancers and indications not presently eligible for Medicare reimbursement. Medicare reimbursement for these cancers is available if the patient’s ordering physician and our center submits data to a clinical registry to assess the impact of PET/CT on cancer patient management. The NOPR is implementing this registry for the CMS. The NOPR is sponsored by the Academy of Molecular Imaging (AMI) and is managed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) through the College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN). On May 8, 2006, the PET Registry became available. Our center has been approved to bill CMS for the PET/CT charges.
For more information about NOPR, you may visit the NOPR Web site at www.cancerPETregistry.org.