Reference 35
Positron emission tomography (PET) review: colorectal, melanoma and ovarian cancer
Reference No. | 35a |
| Reference Name | Positron emission tomography (PET) review: colorectal, melanoma and ovarian cancer |
| Advisory Panel | Associate Professor Frederick Khafagi (Chair and MSAC member) Professor Brendon Kearney (MSAC member) Dr Chuong Bui (ANZPNM nominee) Dr Bryan Burmeister (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists nominee) Dr Frank Chen (Colorectal Surgical Society of Australasia nominee) Dr Gabrielle Cehic (Medical Oncology Group of Australia nominee) Professor Isky Gordon (International representative UK - Professor of Paediatric Imaging) Mr Brian Stafford (Consumers' Health Forum of Australia nominee) |
| Date Received by MSAC Secretariat | 28 June 2006 |
| Stage 1 - Eligibility | Eligible |
| Stage 2 - Assessment | Completed |
| Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the Minister | This assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 31 August 2007 meeting Ref 35a (i) Recurrent Colorectal Cancer MSAC has considered the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of PET and PET/CT using [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in addition to conventional staging for: apparently isolated hepatic or pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer, or suspected locoregional recurrence of colorectal cancer in patients who are being considered for surgical resection with curative intent. MSAC finds that FDG PET and PET/CT are safe. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT provide incremental accuracy over conventional staging alone for metastatic and recurrent colorectal cancer. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are likely to improve patient outcomes through the avoidance of radical surgery which is unlikely to provide long-term benefit. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are likely to be cost-saving for patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer who are considered for surgery with curative intent after conventional staging. Recommendation 1: MSAC recommends that public funding is supported for this procedure when referred by a specialist. Ref 35a (ii) Recurrent Ovarian Cancer MSAC has considered the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of PET and PET/CT using [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) compared with conventional staging for women with suspected locoregional recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer considered to be potentially resectable. MSAC finds that FDG PET and PET/CT are safe. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are more accurate than conventional staging for recurrent ovarian cancer. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are likely to improve patient outcomes through the avoidance of radical surgery which is unlikely to provide long-term benefit. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are likely to be cost-saving for women with recurrent ovarian cancer who are considered suitable for secondary cytoreductive surgery after conventional staging. Recommendation 2: MSAC recommends that public funding is supported for this procedure when referred by a specialist. Ref 35a(iii) Recurrent Melanoma MSAC has considered the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of PET and PET/CT with [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) compared with conventional staging for patients with biopsy-proven recurrent malignant melanoma considered to be potentially resectable with curative intent. MSAC finds that FDG PET and PET/CT are safe. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are more accurate than conventional staging for recurrent melanoma. MSAC finds that PET and PET/CT are likely to improve patient outcomes through the avoidance of radical surgery which is unlikely to provide long-term benefit. MSAC finds PET and PET/CT to be potentially cost-saving compared with conventional staging for patients with biopsy-proven lymph node recurrence of melanoma who are considered for lymphadenectomy with curative intent. Cost savings may be greater in patients with visceral recurrences considered for curative surgery, but this could not be quantified. Recommendation 3: MSAC recommends that public funding is supported for this procedure when referred by a specialist. |
| Stage 4 - Decision | Accepted by the Minister for Health and Ageing on 19 May 2008. |
| Stage 5 - Implementation | Implemented |
Page currency, Latest update: 10 July, 2009
