News Release

SNMMI publishes appropriate use criteria for somatostatin receptor PET imaging

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

RESTON, Va. - The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for somatostatin receptor PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors. This AUC is part of a new series developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. The society's other recently released AUC are for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer; ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism, which is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians; hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain; and FDG PET/CT restaging and response assessment of malignant disease.

The AUC for somatostatin receptor PET imaging addresses several clinical scenarios for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). To develop these criteria, SNMMI worked collaboratively with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American College of Radiology (ACR), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Endocrine Society, the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

SNMMI assembled an autonomous Somatostatin Receptor PET Imaging in Neuroendocrine Tumors Workgroup consisting of experts in the field of nuclear medicine including radiologists, pharmacologists, endocrinologists, surgeons and oncologists to review the scientific literature and develop consensus recommendations for the clinical use of this technology. The Oregon Health Science University's (OHSU) Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) conducted a systematic review of existing evidence based on the scope and parameters that the workgroup put together, which were then used to make the recommendations for clinical use.

The SNMMI Guidance Oversight Committee is also developing AUC for gastrointestinal transit, infection imaging, PET myocardial perfusion imaging, prostate cancer imaging, and thyroid imaging and therapy.

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For the AUC for Somatostatin Receptor PET Imaging in Neuroendocrine Tumors, which is also published in the January 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, click here.

For background and a detailed explanation of the AUC development process, click here.

Please visit the SNMMI Media Center for more information about molecular imaging and personalized medicine. To schedule an interview with an SNMMI expert, please contact Laurie Callahan at (703) 652-6773 or lcallahan@snmmi.org.

About the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to raising awareness about nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.

SNMMI's more than 15,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit http://www.snmmi.org.


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