F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32015000924
English
Authors' objectives: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is progressive and leads to severe disability and then morbidity – on average seven years from diagnosis. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are present for several years before diagnosis and the pathological process that leads to the dementia of Alzheimer's disease begins a decade or more before diagnosis.
Authors' recommendations: After considering the available evidence presented in relation to safety, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease where other diagnostic methods are inconclusive, MSAC did not support the public funding because of uncertain cost effectiveness compared to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) due to weak clinical comparative data and unclear translation of imaging performance to improved health outcomes. MSAC considered that any reapplication should include: • analysis of the paired SPECT and FDG PET patient data from the Austin Health Department of Molecular Imaging to assess analytical validity with a potentially larger sample than existing head-to-head studies; • amendments to the proposed MBS item descriptor to more clearly specify the FDG PET analysis method (i.e. semi-quantitative), and the characteristics of the eligible patient population (i.e. suspected early stage Alzheimer's disease), and to limit the proposed service to no more frequently than once per patient per year; and • a cost-minimisation analysis, considering costs to both the MBS and patients. MSAC considered that any reapplication should be made via ESC.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/1195-public
Year Published: 2015
URL for published report: http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/6C001139ADF0D318CA2579920007D03F/$File/1195Final-PSD-Accessible.pdf
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Dementia
Contact
Organisation Name: Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address: MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.