Update on appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET imaging: dementia experts, mild cognitive impairment, and education. Amyloid Imaging Task Force of the Alzheimer’s Association and Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Alzheimers Dement. 2013 Jul;9(4):e106-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.06.001.

Abstract

Amyloid PET imaging is a novel diagnostic test that can detect in living humans one of the two defining pathologic lesions of Alzheimer disease, amyloid-β deposition in the brain. The Amyloid Imaging Task Force of the Alzheimer's Association and Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging previously published appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET as an important tool for increasing the certainty of a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in specific patient populations. Here, the task force further clarifies and expands 3 topics discussed in the original paper: first, defining dementia experts and their use of proper documentation to demonstrate the medical necessity of an amyloid PET scan; second, identifying a specific subset of individuals with mild cognitive impairment for whom an amyloid PET scan is appropriate; and finally, developing educational programs to increase awareness of the amyloid PET appropriate use criteria and providing instructions on how this test should be used in the clinical decision-making process.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Alzheimer Disease / etiology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Causality
  • Checklist
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
  • Congresses as Topic
  • Disease Management
  • Education, Medical, Continuing
  • Family Practice / education
  • Geriatrics / education
  • Humans
  • Neurology / education
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Plaque, Amyloid / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / standards*
  • Professional Competence
  • Referral and Consultation / standards
  • Teaching Materials

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides