Status: Reaffirmed Effective Date: 11/06/2022
Doc ID: RAD03-1122.2-R0723 Last Review Date: 07/18/2023
Approval and implementation dates for specific health plans may vary. Please consult the applicable health plan for more details.
Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines
Radiation Oncology
Appropriate Use Criteria: Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
Proprietary
© 2023 Carelon Medical Benefits Management, Inc. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Description and Application of the Guidelines
Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
Description and Application of the Guidelines
The Carelon Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines (hereinafter “the Carelon Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines” or the “Guidelines”) are designed to assist providers in making the most appropriate treatment decision for a specific clinical condition for an individual. As used by Carelon, the Guidelines establish objective and evidence-based criteria for medical necessity determinations where possible. In the process, multiple functions are accomplished:
- To establish criteria for when services are medically necessary (i.e., in general, shown to be effective in improving health outcomes and considered the most appropriate level of service)
- To assist the practitioner as an educational tool
- To encourage standardization of medical practice patterns
- To curtail the performance of inappropriate and/or duplicate services
- To advocate for patient safety concerns
- To enhance the quality of health care
- To promote the most efficient and cost-effective use of services
The Carelon guideline development process complies with applicable accreditation standards, including the requirement that the Guidelines be developed with involvement from appropriate providers with current clinical expertise relevant to the Guidelines under review and be based on the most up-to-date clinical principles and best practices. Relevant citations are included in the References section attached to each Guideline. Carelon reviews all of its Guidelines at least annually.
Carelon makes its Guidelines publicly available on its website twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Copies of the Carelon Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines are also available upon oral or written request. Although the Guidelines are publicly-available, Carelon considers the Guidelines to be important, proprietary information of Carelon, which cannot be sold, assigned, leased, licensed, reproduced or distributed without the written consent of Carelon.
Carelon applies objective and evidence-based criteria, and takes individual circumstances and the local delivery system into account when determining the medical appropriateness of health care services. The Carelon Guidelines are just guidelines for the provision of specialty health services. These criteria are designed to guide both providers and reviewers to the most appropriate services based on a patient’s unique circumstances. In all cases, clinical judgment consistent with the standards of good medical practice should be used when applying the Guidelines. Guideline determinations are made based on the information provided at the time of the request. It is expected that medical necessity decisions may change as new information is provided or based on unique aspects of the patient’s condition. The treating clinician has final authority and responsibility for treatment decisions regarding the care of the patient and for justifying and demonstrating the existence of medical necessity for the requested service. The Guidelines are not a substitute for the experience and judgment of a physician or other health care professionals. Any clinician seeking to apply or consult the Guidelines is expected to use independent medical judgment in the context of individual clinical circumstances to determine any patient’s care or treatment.
The Guidelines do not address coverage, benefit or other plan specific issues. Applicable federal and state coverage mandates take precedence over these clinical guidelines. If requested by a health plan, Carelon will review requests based on health plan medical policy/guidelines in lieu of the Carelon Guidelines. Pharmaceuticals, radiotracers, or medical devices used in any of the diagnostic or therapeutic interventions listed in the Guidelines must be FDA approved or conditionally approved for the intended use. However, use of an FDA approved or conditionally approved product does not constitute medical necessity or guarantee reimbursement by the respective health plan.
The Guidelines may also be used by the health plan or by Carelon for purposes of provider education, or to review the medical necessity of services by any provider who has been notified of the need for medical necessity review, due to billing practices or claims that are not consistent with other providers in terms of frequency or some other manner.
General Clinical Guideline
Clinical Appropriateness Framework
Critical to any finding of clinical appropriateness under the guidelines for a specific diagnostic or therapeutic intervention are the following elements:
- Prior to any intervention, it is essential that the clinician confirm the diagnosis or establish its pretest likelihood based on a complete evaluation of the patient. This includes a history and physical examination and, where applicable, a review of relevant laboratory studies, diagnostic testing, and response to prior therapeutic intervention.
- The anticipated benefit of the recommended intervention should outweigh any potential harms that may result (net benefit).
- Current literature and/or standards of medical practice should support that the recommended intervention offers the greatest net benefit among competing alternatives.
- Based on the clinical evaluation, current literature, and standards of medical practice, there exists a reasonable likelihood that the intervention will change management and/or lead to an improved outcome for the patient.
If these elements are not established with respect to a given request, the determination of appropriateness will most likely require a peer-to-peer conversation to understand the individual and unique facts that would supersede the requirements set forth above. During the peer-to-peer conversation, factors such as patient acuity and setting of service may also be taken into account.
Simultaneous Ordering of Multiple Diagnostic or Therapeutic Interventions
Requests for multiple diagnostic or therapeutic interventions at the same time will often require a peer-to-peer conversation to understand the individual circumstances that support the medical necessity of performing all interventions simultaneously. This is based on the fact that appropriateness of additional intervention is often dependent on the outcome of the initial intervention.
Additionally, either of the following may apply:
- Current literature and/or standards of medical practice support that one of the requested diagnostic or therapeutic interventions is more appropriate in the clinical situation presented; or
- One of the diagnostic or therapeutic interventions requested is more likely to improve patient outcomes based on current literature and/or standards of medical practice.
Repeat Diagnostic Intervention
In general, repeated testing of the same anatomic location for the same indication should be limited to evaluation following an intervention, or when there is a change in clinical status such that additional testing is required to determine next steps in management. At times, it may be necessary to repeat a test using different techniques or protocols to clarify a finding or result of the original study.
Repeated testing for the same indication using the same or similar technology may be subject to additional review or require peer-to-peer conversation in the following scenarios:
- Repeated diagnostic testing at the same facility due to technical issues
- Repeated diagnostic testing requested at a different facility due to provider preference or quality concerns
- Repeated diagnostic testing of the same anatomic area based on persistent symptoms with no clinical change, treatment, or intervention since the previous study
- Repeated diagnostic testing of the same anatomic area by different providers for the same member over a short period of time
Repeat Therapeutic Intervention
In general, repeated therapeutic intervention in the same anatomic area is considered appropriate when the prior intervention proved effective or beneficial and the expected duration of relief has lapsed. A repeat intervention requested prior to the expected duration of relief is not appropriate unless it can be confirmed that the prior intervention was never administered.
Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals
General Information
Scope
These guidelines address the use of radiopharmaceutical therapy for oncologic conditions in both adult and pediatric populations. For interpretation of the Guidelines, and where not otherwise noted, “adult” refers to persons age 19 and older, and “pediatric” refers to persons age 18 and younger. Where separate indications exist, they are specified as adult or pediatric. Where not specified, indications and prerequisite information apply to persons of all ages.
See the Codes section for a list of modalities included in these guidelines.
Technology Considerations
Therapeutic radiopharmaceutical drugs (or radioactive drugs) contain a radioactive substance and are used to diagnose or treat disease, including cancer. Radioimmunotherapy specifically refers to systemic therapy that involves a targeting monoclonal antibody linked with a radiation-emitting radionuclide to treat certain types of cancer. These guidelines address the most commonly used radiopharmaceuticals.
Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) is a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical used for the treatment of certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It consists of an antibody which binds to the CD20 antigen found on the surface of B cells linked with the radioisotope yttrium-90. Ibritumomab tiuxetan was approved by the FDA in 2002 as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory CD20-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The indications were expanded to include consolidative treatment of previously untreated follicular lymphoma after complete or partial response to first-line chemotherapy in 2009. Ibritumomab tiuxetan treatment is preceded by treatment with rituximab (Rituxan, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) alone followed by rituximab in combination with ibritumomab tiuxetan.1
Iobenguane I 131 (Azedra®) is a radioactive therapeutic agent approved by the FDA in 2018 for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with iobenguane scan-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who require systemic anticancer therapy. I 131 decays with beta and gamma emissions with a physical half-life of 8.021 days. Iobenguane is taken up by the norepinephrine transporter in adrenergic nerve terminals and accumulates in adrenergically innervated tissues, such as the heart, lungs, adrenal medulla, salivary glands, liver, and spleen as well as tumors of neural crest origin. Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are tumors of neural crest origin that express high levels of the norepinephrine transporter on their cell surfaces. Following intravenous administration, iobenguane I 131 is taken up and accumulates within pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma cells, and radiation resulting from radioactive decay of I 131 causes cell death and tumor necrosis. Iobenguane I 131 is also called iodine I 131-metaiodobenzylguanidine, 131I-MIBG, and Azedra; hereafter, it will be referred to as iobenguane I 131.2
Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate (Lutathera®) is a conjugate of radioactive lutetium and the somatostatin analog dotatate approved by the FDA in 2016. Lu 177-dotatate emits both beta and gamma rays and has a half-life of 6.64 days. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate has been studied in the treatment of metastatic, well-differentiated neuroendocrine cancers that are somatostatin receptor positive. These tumors form from cells that release hormones and can occur in the stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and pancreas. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate binds to receptors for a protein called somatostatin, which is found on some neuroendocrine tumor cells. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate builds up in these cells and gives off radiation, which may help kill cancer cells. Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate is also called Lu 177-dotatate, 177Lu dotatate, and Lutathera; hereafter, it will be referred to as Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate.3
Lutetium Lu 177 -vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto®) is a radioligand therapeutic agent indicated for the treatment of adult patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have been treated with androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy. This radiopharmacuetical binds to PSMA-expressing cells, where beta minus particles are emitted from Lu 177 causing DNA damage to the surrounding cells.
Prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA, is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed at low levels in normal human prostate epithelial cells and is overexpressed (up to 1000 times higher than normal prostate cells) in virtually all types of prostate cancers. It is estimated that PSMA is expressed in > 80% of men with prostate cancer. The treatment is given as a series of up to 6 infusions of 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) given every 6 weeks, unless there is progression or an adverse event related to the drug.4
Radium Ra 223-dichloride (Xofigo®) is an alpha-emitting therapeutic radiopharmaceutical that was approved by the FDA in 2013 and has been shown to prolong survival in men with prostate cancer. In particular, it is used for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases. The drug causes double-stranded DNA breaks but has a low risk of hematologic toxicity. It is administered monthly for 6 months and should be used as monotherapy (though it can be combined with hormonal agents or ablation). The use of radium 223 has been evaluated in combination with chemotherapy with early reports supporting efficacy. Radium 223 should be reserved for individuals with good functional status. Adequate bone marrow reserves should be confirmed prior to initial and subsequent administration and the drug should be discontinued if hematologic parameters do not recover within 6 to 8 weeks of an administered dose. It may cause bone marrow failure or prolonged pancytopenia, including risk of related death. Furthermore, in order to minimize the risk to the bone marrow, it is recommended that the patient meet the following requirements for safety purposes:
- No radioisotopes (such as Strontium) over the previous 6 months (24 weeks)
- No chemotherapy or biologic therapy (hormonal therapy or ablation not included in biologic therapy) in the last 4 weeks.
Radium Ra 223-dichloride is also called Radium 223 and Xofigo; hereafter, it will be referred to as radium 223.5
Sodium iodide I 131 is a radioisotope of iodine indicated for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinomas that take up iodine. Oral sodium iodide I 131 is rapidly absorbed and distributed within the extracellular fluid of the body. Iodide is concentrated in the thyroid via the sodium/iodide symporter, and subsequently oxidized to iodine. I 131 decays by beta emission and associated gamma emission with a physical half-life of 8.04 days. Beta emission of sodium iodide I 131 destroys thyroid tissue. Sodium iodine I 131 is also called I 131; hereafter, it will be referred to as I 131.6
Strontium chloride Sr 89 is a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical used for the relief of bone pain in patients with painful skeletal metastases. Strontium 89 decays by beta emission with a physical half-life of 50.5 days. Following injection, strontium acts as a calcium analog and selectively localizes in mineralized bone. Uptake of strontium by bone occurs preferentially in sites of active osteogenesis; thus, primary bone tumors and areas of metastatic involvement can accumulate significantly greater concentrations of strontium than surrounding normal bone. Strontium chloride Sr 89 is also called Sr 89 and strontium 89; hereafter, it will be referred to as Strontium 89.7
Definitions
- Confidence interval (CI) – describes the amount of uncertainty associated with a sampling method. Confidence intervals are usually reported to help explain how reliable, or precise, a result is.8
- Hazard ratio (HR) – a measure of how often a particular event happens in one group compared to how often it happens in another group, over time. In cancer research, hazard ratios are often used in clinical trials to measure survival at any point in time in a group of patients who have been given a specific treatment compared to a control group given another treatment or a placebo. A hazard ratio of one means that there is no difference in survival between the two groups. A hazard ratio of greater than one or less than one means that survival was better in one of the groups.9
- Odds ratio (OR) – a measure of the odds of an event happening in one group compared to the odds of the same event happening in another group. In cancer research, odds ratios are most often used in case-control (backward looking) studies to find out if being exposed to a certain substance or other factor increases the risk of cancer. For example, researchers may study a group of individuals with cancer (cases) and another group without cancer (controls) to see how many people in each group were exposed to a certain substance or factor. They calculate the odds of exposure in both groups and then compare the odds. An odds ratio of one means that both groups had the same odds of exposure and, therefore, the exposure probably does not increase the risk of cancer. An odds ratio of greater than one means that the exposure may increase the risk of cancer, and an odds ratio of less than one means that the exposure may reduce the risk of cancer. Also called relative odds.9
- Overall survival (OS) – length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring the overall survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works.9
- Overall survival rate – percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are still alive for a certain period of time after they were diagnosed with or started treatment for a disease, such as cancer. The overall survival rate is often stated as a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive five years after their diagnosis or the start of treatment. Also called survival rate.9
- Progression-free survival (PFS) – length of time during and after the treatment of a disease, such as cancer, that a patient lives with the disease but it does not get worse. In a clinical trial, measuring the progression-free survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works.9
- Relative risk (RR) – a measure of the risk of a certain event happening in one group compared to the risk of the same event happening in another group. In cancer research, relative risk is used in prospective (forward looking) studies, such as cohort studies and clinical trials. A relative risk of one means there is no difference between two groups in terms of their risk of cancer, based on whether or not they were exposed to a certain substance or factor, or how they responded to two treatments being compared. A relative risk of greater than one or of less than one usually means that being exposed to a certain substance or factor either increases (relative risk greater than one) or decreases (relative risk less than one) the risk of cancer, or that the treatments being compared do not have the same effects. Also called risk ratio.9
- Response rate – the percentage of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment.9
Clinical Indications
Bone Metastases
Strontium 89
A single dose of strontium 89 is considered medically necessary for symptomatic bone metastases when BOTH of the following conditions are met:
- Confirmed osteoblastic bone metastases from solid organ cancer
- Pain not adequately controlled by conventional therapy
Strontium 89 is considered not medically necessary when the above criteria are not met and for all other indications.
Note: Caution should be taken in patients with poor renal function and/or bone marrow function.
Rationale
Bone metastasis occurs when neoplastic cells migrate from a primary cancer to a distant bone. The most common primary cancers with a predilection for bone spread are breast, prostate, and lung cancer. Although no bone is exempt, highly vascular areas such as spine, pelvis, and femur are more susceptible to metastases. Bone metastasis can present as pain, fracture, or laboratory abnormalities. Treatment involves control of the underlying systemic cancer and local therapy such as surgery, radiation, and/or bone strengthening agents (bisphosphonates and RANKL monoclonal antibodies). Less frequently used therapies are the beta-emitting radionuclides, such as strontium 89.
The FDA approved strontium 89 chloride in 1995 for the relief of bone pain in patients with painful skeletal metastases. In the landmark randomized phase III Canadian multicenter study that garnered strontium 89 FDA approval, patients (N = 126) with endocrine-refractory metastatic prostate cancer received local field radiotherapy and either strontium 89 or placebo. Progression of pain and tumor markers (prostate specific antigen, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase) response showed statistically significant differences between the arms in favor of strontium 89. A quality-of-life analysis demonstrated an overall statistical superiority of strontium-89 for alleviation of pain and improvement in physical activity; however, hematologic toxicity was greater in the strontium 89 group. In 2 separate randomized phase III trials, the addition of strontium 89 has been showed to improve symptom control and quality of life without significant effect on overall survival.10, 11 Multiple additional open and controlled studies have reported the efficacy of strontium 89 in advanced prostate or breast cancer patients as well as other tumor types for pain relief.10-17
Lymphoma
Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®)
A single course of ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) is considered medically necessary when ANY of the following conditions are met:
- Follicular B-cell CD20 positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 years or older
- Relapsed or refractory disease, or after initial therapy when individual demonstrates a partial or complete response
- Individual has adequate marrow reserve (cellularity > 15%, < 25% involvement of lymphoma, and platelets > 100,000 109/L)
- Other low-grade B-cell CD20 positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (such as marginal zone or MALT lymphoma) when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 years or older
- Relapsed or refractory disease
- Individual has adequate marrow reserve (cellularity > 15%, < 25% involvement of lymphoma, and platelets > 100,000 109/L)
Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met
- Given as a repeat course of treatment
- Used as a part of a pre-transplant conditioning regimen
- Used for any other indication not included above
Rationale
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the seventh most common cancer in both men and women. Lymphomas are divided into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is further subdivided into indolent, aggressive, and highly aggressive. Aggressive and highly aggressive lymphomas generally present over weeks to months, while indolent lymphomas may be undiagnosed for years due to their slow rate of growth. Common presenting symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, B symptoms (fevers, chills, night sweats, weight loss), or in the case of more aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, symptoms resulting from local tumor growth or systemic metabolic derangements. The treatment for lymphoma typically involves chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation. The FDA approved ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) in 2002 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma or previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy.
In the prospective, randomized, open-label, phase III (FIT) trial, 414 patients with stage III/IV, CD-20 positive, follicular lymphoma who achieved a complete or partial response to first-line induction therapy were randomized to treatment with ibritumomab tiuxetan vs no further treatment. The median progression-free survival for the ibritumomab-treated patients was 36.5 months vs 13.3 months with no additional treatment (P < .0001). After treatment with ibritumomab, 77% of patients with a partial response to chemotherapy achieved a complete response. Serious (grade 3 or 4) infections occurred in 8% of patients. A subsequent study with 7.3 years median follow-up reported a median time to next treatment of 8.1 years for the ibritumomab-treated patients compared to 3.0 years for the observation cohort (P < .001). As in the first report, there was no significant difference in overall survival. A noted limitation of the trial is that only 14% received rituximab during the induction phase.18, 19
In a single-arm, open-label phase II trial, patients (N = 30) with advanced, relapsed or refractory, low-grade, follicular, or transformed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma were treated with ibritumomab tiuxetan. The overall response rate was 83% (37% complete response, 6.7% complete response unconfirmed, and 40% partial response) with an estimated Kaplan-Meier median time to progression of 9.4 months (range, 1.7-24.6). As expected, the most commonly seen grade 4 toxicities were hematologic: neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia was 33%, 13%, and 3%, respectively.20 In multicenter phase II trial, patients (N = 143) with relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, or transformed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma were treated with ibritumomab tiuxetan or rituximab. Overall response rate was 80% ibritumomab tiuxetan vs 56% for the rituximab group (P = .002). Complete response rates were 30% and 16% in the ibritumomab tiuxetan and rituximab groups, respectively (P = .04). The time to progression was not statistically significant between the 2 arms and, although durable responses (64% vs 47%, P = .030) favored the ibritumomab tiuxetan arm. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were myelosuppression.21 Long-term follow-up of a phase I/II trial reported durable responses of over 2 years in patients who achieved complete response with ibritumomab tiuxetan, although the entire intention to treat population had a time to progression and duration of response of 12.6 months and 11.7 months, respectively.22 In a review of 4 trials, the long term-outcomes of patients of 411 patients treated with yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan with recurrent or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma were reported. At a median follow‐up of 53.5 months, the median duration of response was 28.1 months and the median time to progression was 29.3 months. The estimated overall survival at 5 years was 53% for all patients treated with 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan and 81% for long‐term responders. Results were comparable across non‐Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.23
Several phase II trials have evaluated the use of ibritumomab tiuxetan as part of a pre-transplant conditioning regimen. One small randomized trial compared treatment with Y-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan plus BiCNU, etoposide, ara-C, melphalan (Z-BEAM) chemotherapy to treatment with BEAM alone before autologous stem cell transplantation in aggressive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. In this setting, adding ibritumomab tiuxetan to the pre-transplant regimen resulted in a non-significant increase in 2-year progression-free survival. This study was limited by low enrollment and was closed early due to poor accrual. The authors concluded that larger international studies with longer follow-up will be needed before ibritumomab tiuxetan can be accepted as a standard of care addition to the pre-transplant conditioning regimen.24 In a retrospective study also using Z-BEAM prior to autologous stem cell transplant, patients (N = 37) with relapsed or refractory high-risk B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma reported a complete response in 59%, partial response in 27%, progressive disease in 11% and toxic death in 3%. After a median follow up of 61 months, the 3-year efficacy was not significant between the treatment arms: progression-free survival (57% vs 48%) and 3-year overall survival (60% vs 57%). In a subgroup analysis which included only 18 patients, an improvement in progression-free survival (78% Z-BEAM vs 22% BEAM, P = .016) and overall survival (83% Z-BEAM vs 22% BEAM, P = .001) was reported.25 In a retrospective study of the EBMT Lymphoma Working Party, a multivariate analysis failed to show significant differences with Z-BEAM or R-BEAM compared with BEAM for incidences of relapse, non-relapse mortality, event-free survival, or overall survival.26
Neuroendocrine Cancer
Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera®)
A single course of up to 4 planned injections of Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera®) is considered medically necessary for treatment of EITHER of the following:
- Locally advanced, inoperable or metastatic well-differentiated somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET), including foregut, midgut and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors in adults
OR
- Locally advanced or metastatic bronchopulmonary and thymic neuroendocrine tumors when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 years or older
- An appropriate imaging study has been performed to document somatostatin receptor overexpression
- Disease has progressed on at least 4 months of somatostatin receptor analog therapy and documented by radiographic imaging
- Individual has an ECOG performance status of 0-2
- Individual has not had prior treatment with a radiolabeled somatostatin analog
Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera®) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met and for all other indications
- Given as a repeat course of treatment (Note: A course can include up to 4 planned injections)
Rationale
Neuroendocrine cancer is a rare type of cancer in which tumors arise from neuroendocrine cells and may occur anywhere in the body. The most common neuroendocrine tumors are carcinoid tumors, the majority of which occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors often present with symptoms such as diarrhea, flushing, and wheezing due to excessive production of hormones whereas poorly differentiated tumors are classically nonsecretory and tend to cause symptoms related to local tumor growth or metastatic disease. Well-differentiated neuroendocrine cancers are classically treated with somatostatin analogs, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The FDA approved Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate in 2016 for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) including foregut, midgut, and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors in adults.
Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate has been studied in the treatment of metastatic, well-differentiated neuroendocrine cancer in a randomized, phase III clinical trial (NETTER-1). The study randomized 229 patients with progressive, well-differentiated neuroendocrine cancers to best supportive care, including monthly octreotide long-acting repeatable therapy vs the same treatment plus 4 infusions of Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate given every 8 weeks. Tumors were either locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic. At 20 months, the progression-free survival in the Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate patients was 65.2% vs 10.8% for the control group (P < .001). Response rates and overall survival were also higher in the Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate-treated patients. The most common adverse events were nausea and vomiting. Premedication with intravenous antiemetics was recommended. Serious adverse events were rare. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia were seen in 1%, 2%, and 9% of cases, respectively. Before, during, and after Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate infusion, intravenous amino acids were given to protect the kidneys. No adverse renal events were reported.27
In the phase II ERASMUS trial, patients (N = 1214) with neuroendocrine tumors and positive 111In-DTPA-octreotide scintigraphy were treated with Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate. A total of 610 patients were available for the safety analysis; 443 patients who had gastroenteropancreatic or bronchial neuroendocrine cancer and were treated with a cumulative dose of at least 600 mCi (22.2 GBq) of Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate before 2013 were assessed for the efficacy and survival analysis. The objective response rate of the total group of patients was 39%. Stable disease was reached in 43% of patients. Progression-free survival and overall survival for all neuroendocrine tumor patients were 29 months (95% CI, 26-33 months) and 63 months (95% CI, 55-72 months). Long-term toxicity included acute leukemia in 4 patients (0.7%) and myelodysplastic syndrome in 9 patients (1.5%). No therapy-related long-term renal or hepatic failure occurred.28
The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society and the Commonwealth Neuroendocrine Tumour Research Collaboration recently updated their consensus guidelines for surveillance and management of metastatic and/or unresectable neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas29 and lung.30
Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma
131I iobenguane (Azedra®)
A single course of 131I iobenguane (Azedra®) is considered medically necessary for treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who require systemic anticancer therapy when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 12 years or older
- Iobenguane scan-positive
- Individual has an ECOG performance status of 0-2
- Patient has not received prior treatment with a radiolabeled somatostatin analog
- Unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma
131I iobenguane (Azedra®) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met
- Given as a repeat course of treatment
- Used for any other indication not included above
Lutetium 177Lu dotatate
A single course of Lutetium 177Lu dotatate is considered medically necessary for primary treatment of unresectable or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 years or older
- An appropriate imaging study has been performed to document somatostatin receptor overexpression
- Individual has an ECOG performance status of 0-2
- Patient has not received prior treatment with a radiolabeled somatostatin analog
Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera®) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met
- Given as a repeat course of treatment (Note: A course can include up to 4 planned injections)
- Used for any other indication not included above
Rationale
Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare neuroendocrine cancers that arise from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal gland or extra-adrenal autonomic paraganglia. Hypersecretion of catecholamine often leads to hypertension, headaches, and sweating. Treatment of local disease classically has required resection or radiation therapy, while systemic disease is treated with chemotherapy. The FDA approved 131I iobenguane (Azedra®) in 2018 for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with iobenguane scan-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who require systemic anticancer therapy. Lutetium 177Lu dotatate has not been FDA approved for the treatment of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma.
In an open-label, single-arm, multicenter phase II clinical trial (Study IB12B [NCT00874614]), patients (N = 81) 12 years and older with iobenguane scan-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma were treated with iobenguane I 131. Of 81 patients enrolled, 74 patients received a dosimetric dose of iobenguane I 131. Sixty-eight patients received 1 therapeutic dose (FA) and 50 received 2 as per protocol (PP). At study entry, 52% (35/68) had prior surgery and systemic therapy (I-131 MIBG and/or chemotherapy) for pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma. Greater than 50% tumor reduction occurred in 25% (95% CI, 16%-37%) of FA and 32% (95% CI, 21%-46%) of PP patients. The 12-month overall survival was 91% in FA patients and the median overall survival was 36.7 months (95% CI, 29.9-49.1). Survival was not affected by lung or liver metastases.31 Also included in the FDA review was the Phase II trial (Trial 1[NCT01413503]) used for refinement of dosing and for evaluation of adverse events. The most common grade 3-4 adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, anemia, increased international normalized ratio, nausea, dizziness, hypertension, and vomiting. In the pooled safety population, 6.8% of patients who received a therapeutic dose of iobenguane I 131 developed myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia.2
In a 1997 review of 116 pheochromocytoma patients treated with 131I metaiodobenzylguanidine, Loh et al reported that initial symptomatic improvement was achieved in 76% of patients, tumor response in 30%, and hormonal response in 45%.32 Additional smaller studies have resulted in similar findings.33-38 Objective response rates are approximately 30% with a larger proportion having stabilized disease. Limited evidence supports the use of larger doses (above 500mCi), and therefore should only be used in the setting of a clinical trial.33, 39
In a small prospective trial, patients (N = 20) with unresectable paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma with high somatostatin receptor expression were treated with Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate. Fourteen patients were treated for uncontrolled hypertension and 6 for progressive or symptomatic metastatic disease or local recurrence. Three months after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, 8 of 14 patients treated for HTN required reduced medication doses, 5 had no change in anti-HTN doses, and 1 was lost to follow-up. Eighty-six percent had serum chromogranin-A reduction. Of the entire cohort, 36% had disease regression (29% partial and 7% minor response) on computed tomography, with stable findings in 50%. Three other patients had bony disease evaluable only on somatostatin receptor imaging (2 partial response and 1 stable). Median progression-free survival was 39 months; median overall survival was not reached (5 deaths; median follow-up, 28 months). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events included lymphopenia in 4 patients and thrombocytopenia in 2 patients.40
The North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society recently updated their consensus guidelines for surveillance and management of metastatic and/or unresectable pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.41
Prostate Cancer
Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan
A single course of Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto™), up to six doses given every 6 weeks, is considered medically necessary for treatment of prostate cancer when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 or older
- Individual has castrate-resistant, metastatic prostate cancer
- Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive disease demonstrated by a positive PSMA-11 based PET scan
- Previous treatment with taxane-based chemotherapy
- Previous treatment with ONE of the following androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors:
- Abiaterone
- Apalutamide
- Enzalutamide
- Darolutamide
Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met and for all other indications
Radium 223 (Xofigo®)
A single course of Radium 223 (Xofigo®) as monotherapy, up to 6 planned monthly injections, is considered medically necessary for treatment of prostate cancer when ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Individual is age 18 years or older
- Individual has a good performance status (ECOG 0-2)
- Metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer
- Serum testosterone level is less than 50 ng/dl
- Symptomatic bone metastases only, with no visceral involvement
- No bulky (> 3 cm) lymph node metastases
- Disease is worsening or progressing and ANY of the following conditions are met:
- Based on imaging demonstrating worsening bone metastases
- Based on PSA over 5 ng/mL and rising over 2 consecutive lab evaluations
Radium 223 (Xofigo®) is considered not medically necessary when:
- The above criteria are not met and for all other indications
- Given as a repeat course of treatment
- Systemic radiotherapy with radioisotopes given within the previous 24 weeks
- Chemotherapy or biologic therapy given within the previous 4 weeks
- Used concurrently with docetaxel or any other systemic therapy except androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
- Used in combination with abiraterone acetate (Zytiga®) plus prednisone or prednisolone
- There is evidence of spinal cord compression
Rationale
Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men in the U.S.42 Patients most commonly present with asymptomatic elevation in PSA, abnormal prostate exam, urinary symptoms (urgency, frequency, and nocturia), hematuria, and occasionally bone pain if skeletal metastases are present. The treatment of prostate cancer is dependent on life expectancy and risk. For patients with localized disease, both radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy may be used as definitive treatment. The clinician may endorse additional hormone therapy based on pre-treatment or surgical findings. For patients with disseminated disease, an array of different hormone-manipulating medications or chemotherapy is available. For select patients, immunotherapy or radioactive radium-223 can also be used.
Sartor et al. recently reported results of the VISION trial utilizing Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 (Pluvicto®) to treat metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer. This open-label, phase 3 study evaluated patients who had been treated with androgen receptor inhibitors and taxane-based chemotherapy for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate which had progressed on hormonal therapy. Patients with positive PSMA diagnostic scans were randomized 2:1 to receive Lu-177 PSMA-617 in addition standard therapy vs standard of care (SoC) alone. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall survival. Secondary endpoints included objective response, disease control, and time to symptomatic bone events. A total of 831 patients were randomized. The median follow-up for all patients was 20.9 months. The Lu-177-PSMA-617 treated group showed improved median progression-free survival of 8.7 months vs 3.4 months with standard of care treatment alone (HR 0.40, P < 0.001). The median overall survival for the Lu-177-PSMA-617 treated patients was 15.3 months compared to 11.3 months for standard therapy (HR 0.62, P < 0.001). Time to first symptomatic skeletal event was improved by a median of 4.7 months (P < 0.001). Adverse events were higher in the experimental group but quality of life was not significantly different.43
The FDA granted priority review and breakthrough designation for Lu-177-PSMA-617 and, on March 23, 2022, approved the drug to treat adult patients with PSMA-positive metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer in patients who have experienced progression after treatment with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and taxane-based chemotherapy. The recommended dose of Pluvicto® is 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) given intravenously every 6 weeks for up to 6 doses or until disease progression.4
There are several related trials ongoing including a phase 3 study comparing 177Lu-PSMA-617 vs androgen receptor-directed therapy in the treatment of progressive mCRPC (NCT04689828), a phase 3 study comparing 177Lu-PSMA-617 in combination with SoC, vs SoC alone, in adult male patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (NCT04720157), and a phase 3 study comparing the safety and efficacy of 177Lu-PSMA-I&T vs hormone therapy in patients with mCRPC (NCT05204927).43
In the double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III (ALSYMPCA) trial, patients (N = 921) who had received, were not eligible to receive, or declined docetaxel were randomized 2:1 to receive 6 injections of radium-223 (at a dose of 50 kBq per kilogram of body weight intravenously) or matching placebo. At the interim analysis, which included 809 patients, radium-223, as compared with placebo, significantly improved overall survival (median, 14.0 months vs 11.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55-0.88; two-sided P = .002). The updated analysis of 921 patients confirmed the radium-223 survival benefit (median, 14.9 months vs 11.3 months; hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58-0.83; P < .001). Assessments of all main secondary efficacy end points also showed a benefit of radium-233 as compared with placebo. Subgroup analysis showed that survival benefit was seen regardless of prior docetaxel use as well as improvement in quality-of-life and disease-related events.44-46 Final long-term safety analysis of ALSYMPCA showed radium-223 was well tolerated with low myelosuppression incidence and no new safety concerns.47
Two separate trials have shown that radium-223 may be safely combined with abiraterone or enzalutamide. In a phase I/IIa study, the combination of docetaxel and Radium-223 in castrate resistant prostate cancer patients with ≥ 2 bone metastases also appears to be safe and effective in reducing biochemical markers.48 In contrast, a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase III trial assessing 806 patients with asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic chemotherapy-naive mCRPC and bone metastases treated with abiraterone acetate and prednisone/prednisolone (AAP) +/- Ra-223 reported worsened median SSE-FS and mOS in the group treated with AAP and Radium-223: 22.3 months (95% CI, 20.4-24.8) vs 26.0 months (95% CI, 21.8-28.3) (HR 1.122, 95% CI, 0.917-1.374; P = .2636) and 30.7 months (95% CI, 25.8-not estimable) vs 33.3 months (95% CI, 30.2-41.1) (HR 1.195, 95% CI, 0.950-1.505; P = .1280), respectively. Fractures were also seen in 29% in the combination arm and only 11% llin the AAP arm.49
Thyroid Cancer
Radioactive iodine 131 is considered medically necessary for differentiated thyroid cancer when ANY of the following conditions are met:
- Definitive treatment for low-risk patients when surgery is not planned (e.g., due to patient comorbidities or refusal)
- Adjuvant treatment after total thyroidectomy/partial thyroidectomy (except in low-risk patients)
- Treatment of unresectable gross residual disease after total thyroidectomy/partial thyroidectomy
- Treatment of known or suspected metastatic disease and radioiodine-avid thyroid scintigraphy
- Treatment of persistent disease found on post radioactive iodine therapy imaging
- Treatment of suspected recurrence based on biochemical testing
Radioactive iodine 131 is considered not medically necessary when the above criteria are not met and for all other indications.
Repeat I-131 should be limited to patients with prior response to radioactive iodine treatment. Repeat treatment should not occur sooner than 6 to 12 months following prior treatment.
Refer to inpatient medical policy for sodium iodide I-131 for full coverage details.
Table 1: Common Features of Low-risk Thyroid Cancer
Low-risk papillary thyroid cancer | Low-risk follicular and hurthle cell thyroid cancer |
|---|---|
Classic papillary thyroid cancer | – |
Largest primary tumor < 2 cm | Largest primary tumor < 2 cm |
Intrathyroidal | Intrathyroidal |
Unifocal or multifocal (all foci < 1 cm) | No vascular invasion |
No detectable anti-Tg antibodies | Clinical N0 |
Postoperative unstimulated Tg < 1 ng/mL | Postoperative unstimulated Tg < 1 ng/mL |
Rationale
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer in the U.S. The most common histologies are papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular carcinoma, which account for 95% of all thyroid cancers. Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer will undergo thyroidectomy. Radioactive iodine can be used for imaging and/or treatment of differentiated thyroid cancers. Thyroid stimulating hormone suppression, external beam radiation therapy, and small molecule multikinase inhibitors are often also employed for the treatment of recurrent, residual, or metastatic disease. In 1971, the FDA approved sodium iodide I 131, a radioactive therapeutic agent, for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinomas that take up iodine. I 131 has typically been used in 3 distinct scenarios: complete ablation of remnant thyroid, adjuvant treatment for high-risk disease, and treatment of persistent/metastatic disease.
In a review by the American and European Thyroid Associations, patients (N = 1298) with low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer treated with radioactive iodine were evaluated. Ten-year overall survival was found to be 95.8% in patients without radioactive iodine treatment after surgery vs 94.6% in patients with radioactive iodine treatment after surgery, and 10-year disease-free survival was found to be 93.1% vs 88.7% (P = .001). Using multivariate Cox analyses, radioactive iodine was neither significantly nor independently associated with overall survival (P = .243) and disease-free survival (P = .2659).50 Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses have also failed to show conclusive benefit for treatment of Stage I and/or low-risk disease.51-56 A rise in salivary gland malignancies (SIR = 11.13; 95% CI, 1.35-40.2) and leukemia (SIR = 5.68; 95% CI, 2.09-12.37) has also been reported with I 131 therapy. The risk of leukemia was significantly greater in patients aged < 45 years (SIR = 5.32; 95% CI, 2.75-9.30) compared with the risk in older patients (SIR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.43-3.39).57
The use of I 131 in the intermediate to high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer population has been shown to decrease recurrence as well as improve disease-specific mortality. In patients with tumors > 1.5 cm, fewer cancer deaths occurred after thyroid remnant ablation than after other treatment strategies (P < .001).54 In a review of the NCI database of 21,870 patients with intermediate-risk papillary carcinoma who underwent total thyroidectomy with or without radioactive iodine, improvement in overall survival was seen in all patients (P < .001) as well as a 29% reduction in the risk of death, with a hazard risk of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.62-0.82, P < .001).58 In a multicenter study, patients (N = 395) with high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer had an improvement in overall mortality (RR 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06-0.47), cancer-specific mortality (RR 0.12; 95% CI, 0.04-0.42), progression (RR 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.56), and disease-free survival (RR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.08-1.01).59 In an NTCTCS Registry analysis of 491 patients, stage III patients who received radioactive iodine (RR 0.66; P = .04) and stage IV patients who received both total/near-total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine (RR, 0.66 and 0.70; combined P = .049) also had an improved overall survival.60 In a review of the SEER data base, multivariate analysis failed to show radioactive iodine significantly affecting mortality (P = .9176). Subgroup analysis identified patients older than 45 years with primary tumors > 2 cm and disease in the lymph nodes with distant metastatic disease as the only group positively affected by radioactive iodine.61 A smaller study that exclusive included patients with metastatic thyroid cancer, the risk of recurrence was 7% for patients who achieved resolution of the radioiodine-avid metastatic lesions. Overall survival at 10 years after initiation of I 131 treatment was 92% in patients who achieved a negative study and 19% in those who did not.62
Codes
The following code list is not meant to be all-inclusive. Authorization requirements will vary by health plan. Please consult the applicable health plan for guidance on specific procedure codes.
Specific CPT codes for services should be used when available. Nonspecific or not otherwise classified codes may be subject to additional documentation requirements and review.
CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA). CPT® five-digit codes, nomenclature and other data are copyright by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. AMA assumes no liability for the data contained herein or not contained herein.
Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®)
CPT/HCPCS
Yttrium Y-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan, therapeutic, per treatment dose, up to 40 millicuries | |
Radiopharmaceutical therapy, radiolabeled monoclonal antibody by intravenous infusion |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C81.00 – C88.9 | Lymphoma |
C82.00 – C82.99 | Nodular lymphoma (or follicular) |
C83.80 – C83.89 | Other named variants of lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma |
C83.90 – C88.9 | Other malignant lymphomas |
C88.4 | Marginal zone lymphoma (MALT) |
Iobenguane I 131 (Azedra®)
CPT/HCPCS
A9590 | Iodine i-131, iobenguane, 1 millicurie |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C74.00 – C74.92 | Malignant neoplasm of adrenal gland [paragangliomas, pheochromocytomas] |
C7A.00 – C7A.8 | Malignant carcinoid tumors |
D35.00 – D35.02 | Benign neoplasm of adrenal gland [paragangliomas, pheochromocytomas] |
Lutetium Lu 177-dotatate (Lutathera®)
CPT/HCPCS
A9513 | Lutetium lu 177, dotatate, therapeutic, 1 millicurie |
79101 | Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intravenous administration |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C25.4 | Malignant neoplasm of endocrine pancreas |
C74.10 – C74.12 | Malignant neoplasm of medulla of adrenal gland |
C74.90 – C74.92 | Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of adrenal gland |
C75.5 | Malignant neoplasm of aortic body and other paraganglia |
C7A.00 – C7A.8 | Malignant carcinoid tumors |
C7B.00 – C7B.09 | Secondary carcinoid tumors |
C7B.8 | Other secondary neuroendocrine tumors |
E34.0 | Carcinoid syndrome |
Z85.020 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of stomach |
Z85.030 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of large intestine |
Z85.040 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of rectum |
Z85.060 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of small intestine |
Z85.07 | Personal history of malignant neoplasm of pancreas |
Z85.110 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of bronchus and lung |
Z85.230 | Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of thymus |
Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto™)
CPT/HCPCS
A9607 | Lutetium lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, therapeutic, 1 millicurie |
79101 | Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intravenous administration |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate |
R97.21 | Rising PSA following treatment for malignant neoplasm of prostate |
Z19.2 | Hormone resistant malignancy status |
Radium (Ra)-223 dichloride (Xofigo®)
CPT/HCPCS
A9606 | Radium ra-223 dichloride, therapeutic, per microcurie |
79101 | Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intravenous administration |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate |
C79.51 | Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone |
R97.21 | Rising PSA following treatment for malignant neoplasm of prostate |
Z19.2 | Hormone resistant malignancy status |
Sodium iodide I 131
CPT/HCPCS
A9528 | Iodine i-131 sodium iodide capsule(s), diagnostic, per millicurie |
A9531 | Iodine i-131 sodium iodide, diagnostic, per microcurie (up to 100 microcuries) |
78012 | Thyroid uptake, single/multiple quantitative measurement(s) |
78013 | Thyroid imaging with vascular flow |
78014 | Thyroid uptake w/blood flow, single/multiple quantitative measurement(s) |
78015 | Thyroid carcinoma metastases imaging, limited area |
78016 | Thyroid carcinoma metastases imaging, additional study |
78018 | Thyroid carcinoma metastases imaging whole body |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
Refer to the ICD-10 CM manual
C73 | Malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland |
Strontium Sr 89 chloride
CPT/HCPCS
A9600 | Strontium sr-89 chloride, therapeutic, per millicurie |
77750 | Infusion or instillation of radioelement solution (includes 3-month follow-up care) |
ICD-10 Diagnoses
C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate |
C79.51 | Secondary malignant neoplasm of bone |
R97.21 | Rising PSA following treatment for malignant neoplasm of prostate |
Z19.2 | Hormone resistant malignancy status |
References
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3. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). LUTATHERA® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) injection, for intravenous use. 2018 [revised 2022 June]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/208700s019s023lbl.pdf.
4. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). PLUVICTOTM (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) injection, for intravenous use. 2022 [revised 2022 Mar]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215833s000lbl.pdf.
5. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). XOFIGO (radium Ra 223 dichloride) injection, for intravenous use. 2013 [revised 2019 Dec]. Available from: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/203971s016lbl.pdf.
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27. Strosberg J, El-Haddad G, Wolin E, et al. Phase 3 trial of 177Lu-dotatate for midgut neuroendocrine tumors. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(2):125-35.
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