Radiotherapy (RT) remains an effective treatment in patients with acromegaly refractory to medical and/or surgical interventions, with durable tumor control and biochemical remission; however, there are still concerns about delayed biochemical effect and potential late toxicity of radiation treatment, especially high rates of hypopituitarism. Stereotactic radiotherapy has been developed as a mo...

PLEASE NOTE: Contracts exclude from coverage, among other things, services or procedures that are considered investigational or cosmetic. Providers may bill members for services or procedures that are considered investigational or cosmetic. Providers are encouraged to inform members before rendering such services that the members are likely to be financially responsible for the cost of these se...

The following Protocol contains medical necessity criteria that apply for this service. The criteria are also applicable to services provided in the local Medicare Advantage operating area for those members, unless separate Medicare Advantage criteria are indicated. If the criteria are not met, reimbursement will be denied and the patient cannot be billed. Please note that payment for covered s...

Stereotactic surgical instruments have developed along two lines. The more traditional and accurate machines were devised by Spiegel and Wycis (1952), Spiegel, Wycis, Marks, and Lee (1947), Bailey and Stein (1951), Talairach, HeI-{aen, David, Monnier, and Ajuriaguerra (1949), Leksell (1949), Riechert, and Mundinger (1954), and others. Most of these machines are fixed to the skull for stability,...

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with few effective treatment modalities. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a novel technique that takes advantage of the technologic advancements in image guidance and radiation dose delivery to direct ablative doses to tumors with acceptable toxicity that was not previously achievable with conventional techniques. Recent literature contains repor...

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When Policy Topic is covered Stereotactic radiosurgery using a gamma or LINAC unit may be considered medically necessary for the following indications:  arteriovenous malformations;  acoustic neuromas;  pituitary adenomas;  non-resectable, residual, or recurrent meningiomas;  craniopharyngiomas;  glomus jugulare tumors;  solitary or multiple brain metastases in patients having good perfo...

The following Protocol contains medical necessity criteria that apply for this service. It is applicable to Medicare Advantage products unless separate Medicare Advantage criteria are indicated. If the criteria are not met, reimbursement will be denied and the patient cannot be billed. Preauthorization is not required except for the treatment of cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, colon and ...

When Policy Topic is covered Stereotactic radiosurgery using a gamma or LINAC unit may be considered medically necessary for the following indications:  arteriovenous malformations;  acoustic neuromas;  pituitary adenomas;  non-resectable, residual, or recurrent meningiomas;  craniopharyngiomas;  glomus jugulare tumors;  solitary or multiple brain metastases in patients having good perfo...

The following protocol contains medical necessity criteria that apply for this service. The criteria are also applicable to services provided in the local Medicare Advantage operating area for those members, unless separate Medicare Advantage criteria are indicated. If the criteria are not met, reimbursement will be denied and the patient cannot be billed. Please note that payment for covered s...