Utilization of PET Scans to monitor recurrent ovarian cancer

My insurance company states that PET Scans are experimental in the monitoring of metastatic, recurrent ovarian cancer. I am in need of web-site links to articles that say differently (PETs are used for this purpose) from expert physicians, cancer centers and hospitals. In addition, I was wondering if anyone else was having this type of problem with their insurance company? Thank you for your input.

[Jules777]

Michelob,

Here are several sites/articles that should help. Cutting and pasting the http and address should help get thru them quicker. If you can't access the medline or medscape sites, let me know and I'll get them to you another way. They are very specific to the benefits of PET and ovarian cancer.

Best of luck to you...I have had some problems with my HMO in the past and it's so frustrating.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/ovarian-cancer/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/436927
http://intapp.medscape.com/px/medlineapp/getdoc?ord=1&searchid=1&have_local_holdings_file=1&local_journals_only=0&searchstring=PET+scans+and+ovarian+cancer
http://intapp.medscape.com/px/medlineapp/getdoc?ord=3&searchid=1&have_local_holdings_file=1&local_journals_only=0&searchstring=PET+scans+and+ovarian+cancer
http://intapp.medscape.com/px/medlineapp/getdoc?ord=4&searchid=1&have_local_holdings_file=1&local_journals_only=0&searchstring=PET+scans+and+ovarian+cancer
http://intapp.medscape.com/px/medlineapp/getdoc?ord=5&searchid=1&have_local_holdings_file=1&local_journals_only=0&searchstring=PET+scans+and+ovarian+cancer
http://intapp.medscape.com/px/medlineapp/getdoc?ord=6&searchid=1&have_local_holdings_file=1&local_journals_only=0&searchstring=PET+scans+and+ovarian+cancer
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/461321
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/499488
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/461320
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/412975
http://imaging.cancer.gov/imaginginformation/cancerimaging/page5
http://ctep.cancer.gov/resources/gcig/news062105.html
http://www.csmc.edu/2757.html
http://www.ovariancancercenter.org/treatment/imagingservices.cfm
http://ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/recurrentqa.cfm
http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/diagnostics.aspx?id=31384#PET
http://cancer.wellstar.org/content.aspx?section=search&id=24036
http://www.integralpet.com/Physicians_info.htm
http://www.petscaninfo.com/zportal/portals/pat/basic/whatpetsees
http://www.accv.org.au/cancer1/patients/ovarian/howtest.htm
http://staging.cancerconsultants.com/womgi.professional/content.aspx?section=search&id=24036
http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gm=1!gid1=7266;jsessionid=8AB2118A96441DDD5B7870468C4FD8A8
http://www.thompsonpet.com/zportal/portals/phys/clinical/jnmpetlit/index_html/JNM_OncoApps
http://www.usoncology.com/Network/PETIndications.asp
http://www.dh.org/medical/cancer_program/pennpet_center.htm
http://www.suttercancer.org/clinicalservices/pet.html
http://www.dmc.org/pet/#link1
http://www.baymed.org/body.cfm?id=43&action=detail&ref=163
http://www.petfusioncenter.com/professionals.html
http://www.montanacancer.org/news.asp?com=show&edition=3%2F17%2F2004&story=With+PET%2C+Illnesses+Diagnosed+and+Treated+Earlier%2C+More+Effectively
http://www.indianacancer.com/PET.html
http://www.thepetscancenter.com/how_works.html
http://www.onsmartpages.com/georgechako/diagnoseswithpet/


Blue cross Blue shield approves PET scans for ovarian cancers...that might help in showing your insurance co. that it's beneficial. http://www.bcbsma.com/common/en_US/medical_policies/358.htm

http://www.rrmginc.com/petctphysicians.html
http://www.thompsonpet.com/zportal/portals/pat/cancer
http://www.petscan.org/diseases.cfm?ContentID=34
http://www.petnetpharmaceutical.com/physician/case_studies/ovarian
http://www.dmspet.com/zportal/portals/phys/clinical/Sensitivity-Specificity.pdf
http://www.moncriefpetct.com/zportal/portals/phys/faq/#faq1

[Michelob]

Thanks so very much for the websites you listed! I am certainly having quite the time with the insurance companies. Now, with your help, I feel armed with the information to share with the insurance companies & let them know it's time to change how they process these types of claims.  Thanks again! Michelob