Breast Cancer Facts

• Second only to lung cancer as leading cancer death in women.
• Most common single cause of death in women age 35-50.
• Treatment includes surgery together with chemotherapy.
• Hormone and radiation therapy also used.

Gambhir SS, et al. J Nucl Med May 2005

Revised CMS Coverage for Breast Cancer

• PET/CT imaging for Breast Cancers. Staging/restaging of local regional recurrence or distant metastasis.
• Evaluation of response to therapy, performed during the course of treatment.

Summary of Evidence for PET/CT in Breast Cancer ¹

• For staging: an estimated 24% change in management, based on a 950 patient study.
• For recurrence: an estimated 40% change in management, based on a 850 patient study.

1. Vranjesevic D, Filmont JE, Meta J, et al. Whole-body 18F-FDG PET and conventional imaging for predicting outcome in previously treated breast cancer patients. J Nucl Med. 2002;43:325-329.

Key Management Issues

• Determining if a breast mass is benign or malignant.
• Staging of axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes.
• Detecting metastatic disease.
• Detecting local or distant recurrence.
• Assessing response of the tumor to treatment.

The Challenge

Earlier detection of the breast cancer’s stage, how it is responding to therapy, or if it has reoccurred.

PET/CT Imaging Available at Washington Imaging Services

Medicare and Private Insurers cover whole body PET/CT imaging in the management of Breast Cancer.
The coverage includes:

• Staging patients with distant metastasis
• Restaging of patients with loco-regional recurrences or metastasis
• Monitoring tumor response to treatment when a change in the ongoing therapy is contemplated (applies DURING the course of treatment)

Minimize Insurance Verification Hassles

Patient scheduling and the pre-scan insurance paperwork for verification will be performed by our staff. To order a PET/CT from Washington Imaging Services, simply fax us a prescription at 425-454- 8911 with the patient’s name and phone number, the appropriate diagnosis and the scan desired.

Once we receive the faxed (or phoned) PET/CT prescription, our PET/CT Coordinator will schedule the patient and initiate the pre-scan process. She will call the patient to get all the pertinent information required and then contact the insurance company to obtain authorization. In most cases, your patient will have the PET/CT scan at WIS within 48-72 hours of our receipt of your prescription. In an emergency, cases will be done within 24 hours.

For more information on PET/CT and Breast Cancer, contact us at 425-688-0100, ext 8316 or
email us at info@washingtonimaging.com