I just learned St. Luke’s Imaging in Meridian, Idaho, does only Axumin PET Scans “base of skull to hips” or CPT Code 78815. They do not do CPT 78816 PET Scan “full body scan” with Axumin, but can do full body scans using non-Axumin technology.
Do other Axumin centers do full body Axumin PET Scans? Any perspectives? Suggestions? Common practice?
My Aetna insurance approved 78815 Axumin scan at St. Luke’s for this week, but I’m surprised to learn it’s not a full body scan.
I cannot provide confident info about Axumin vs other newer PET scans, which are availbale on ly on limited basis anyway. But , on the subject of comprehensiveness of scan, I'd contribute that probably that "partial" scan is very adequate in the case of searching for PC metastases...certainly there would be a small chance that something could be missed. Have you discussed with a Doc you trust? Folks here are not Docs!!! Do you have a Doc who at least is open to email communication for questions like these.....good Docs will do that, IMHO. don't need an appointment for single questions!!
I had Axumin scan back in March. They scanned from base of skull to hips, just like you are asking about . Not sure why, but it may have to do with where PCa normally migrates to first?
As Maley2711 said, I am NOT a doctor. There are others here that I'm sure can give you a better answer.
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