PET BASICS
What does PET stand for?
Positron Emission Tomography.
What CPT code is used for a skull-to-thigh PET?
78815.
Which tracer is most commonly recommended for detecting or evaluating prostate cancer?
PSMA-PYL (Pylarify).
Can a PET be scheduled sooner than 24 hours?
No. A PET cannot be scheduled sooner than 24 hours under any circumstance.
Which patient population cannot be scheduled for PET by General Scheduling?
Inmates — Regional Advocacy must assist with scheduling.
What is the most common tracer used in PET imaging?
FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose).
What CPT code is used for a whole-body PET?
78816.
Name three tracers used for prostate cancer imaging or biochemical recurrence.
PSMA-PYL, Posluma, and Axumin.
Can you schedule a PET/CT without authorization?
No — UNLESS the RPO imaging notes specifically state, “Ok to schedule without Auth" or billing codes say "not required".
Which three injectable medications must be confirmed when scheduling a NetSpot PET?
Sandostatin, Lanreotide, and Octreotide.
PET imaging combines an injected radioactive tracer with what two types of imaging?
CT or MR
What CPT code is used for a brain metabolic FDG PET?
78608.
Which tracer is associated with neuroendocrine and carcinoid tumors?
NetSpot (Gallium-DOTATATE).
What must be included on the authorization for a PET?
The CPT for the PET imaging, the CPT for the tracer, and the tracer quantity/units.
How much time must be between a non-PET exam and a PET?
120 minutes (2 hours).
What are the three PET scan types offered by RadNet?
Whole body, skull-to-thigh, and brain PET scans.
What CPT code is used for the FDG tracer?
A9552.
Which tracer is used for breast cancer imaging by binding to estrogen?
FES-Cerianna.
You review the order and discover the diagnosis doesn't appear relevant to the PET exam. What should you do?
Contact the RPO for clarification. If you're unable to reach the RPO, send a runner sheet.
How long after a PET must a nuclear medicine (NM) exam be scheduled?
A minimum of 3 days after the PET.
What does a PET scan use to produce detailed images that help identify cellular abnormalities?
Advanced imaging cameras and radioactive tracers.
A patient has a PSMA-PYL PET ordered. Which two imaging CPT codes could be used?
78816 for whole body or 78815 for skull-to-thigh, depending on what was ordered and authorized.
A patient is being evaluated for Alzheimer’s disease, MCI, or memory loss. What type of PET study may be ordered?
Amyloid PET.
A physician orders a STAT PET. How should you handle it?
PET exams cannot be scheduled as STAT. Schedule the first available appointment and add a Sooner Appointment Request alert.
A patient has multiple PET scans ordered and wants them performed on the same day. What should you do?
Submit a runner sheet for approval by Dr. Rose.