The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published criteria to support clinical decision-making around the use of imaging in patients with cancer, helping to assure needed and useful imaging while potentially saving patients from unneeded or inappropriate imaging.
The NCCN Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria Compendium includes recommendations pertaining to cancer screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, follow-up, and surveillance as outlined within the library of NCCN Guidelines. It includes all recommended imaging procedures, including radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional nuclear medicine imaging (PET, SPECT), and ultrasound.
Ultrasound imaging.
The imaging compendium is available for the following cancer types:
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian
• Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal
• Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Lung Cancer Screening
• Neuroendocrine Tumors
• Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
• Prostate Cancer
• Prostate Cancer Early Detection
Additional cancer types will be published in the coming months.
Other NCCN Guidelines derivative products include:
• The NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium contains authoritative, scientifically derived information designed to support decision-making about the appropriate use of drugs and biologics in patients with cancer. The NCCN Compendium is recognized by public and private insurers alike, including CMS and UnitedHealthcare as an authoritative reference for oncology coverage policy.
• The NCCN Biomarkers Compendium contains information designed to support decision-making around the use of biomarker testing in patients with cancer.
• The NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, supportive care agents, monitoring parameters, and safety instructions based directly on recommendations within the NCCN Guidelines. Special instructions for self-administered chemotherapeutic agents are also provided.
The network’s clinical practice guidelines are frequently updated.
The new NCCN Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria Compendium web-based user interface provides a searchable and user-customized display of approved imaging criteria. According to the group, complimentary access to the compendium is available until 2017 at NCCN.org/ImagingAUC.
The NCCN is a not-for-profit alliance of 27 cancer centers focused on patient care, research, and education. The organization promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers.