Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive imaging procedure used for measuring the concentrations of positron-emitting radioisotopes within the tissue of living subjects. 2-[F18] fluoro-2-D-glucose (FDG) is a radiopharmaceutical that is attracted to higher areas of metabolism. On December 15, 2000, HCFA published a Decision Memorandum on a request for broad coverage (CAG-00065) of all oncological indications, heart disease, and neurological disorders. The December 15th decision memorandum stated that while several new indications for the use of FDG PET could be covered under Medicare, CMS, formerly known as HCFA, had insufficient evidence to support coverage for the management of thyroid cancer. However, it would reconsider the issue if documentation of new medical information was brought to our attention. Recently, CMS received a formal request for reconsideration of this issue from the American Thyroid Association, including new medical information suggesting the test's usefulness for several different indications in the management of thyroid cancer. CMS will review the new information to determine if Medicare's national coverage decision on FDG PET should be revised to include coverage of any, or all, of the proposed indications for thyroid cancer management.

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