AHCPR to evaluate FDG-PET application

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research last week announcedplans to evaluate the safety and clinical value of FDG-PET fordiagnosing and managing epilepsy.

The review will center on the use of FDG-PET to locate thefocus of epileptic seizures for possible surgical excision. Radiologistsat the University of California at Los Angeles and elsewhere havereported good results with this application since at least 1993.

The evaluation was requested by the Health Care Financing Administrationand will influence whether Medicare coverage will be extendedfor the procedure.