2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

(radiopharmaceuticals) to diagnose and treat disease. In
nuclear imaging, the radiopharmaceuticals are detected by
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special types of cameras that work with computers to provide
very precise pictures about the area of the body being
imaged. In treatment or therapy, the radiopharmaceuticals
go directly to the organ being treated. The amount of
radiation in a typical nuclear imaging procedure is
comparable to that received during a diagnostic x-ray. The
Society for Nuclear Medicine (SNM) states that the science
of nuclear medicine, particularly nuclear medicine imaging,
provides physicians with information about both structure
and function of certain internal body organs. SNM further
states that “unlike a diagnostic X-ray where radiation is
passed through the body, nuclear medicine tracers are taken
internally; external detectors measure the radiation that
they emit.” (www.snm.org) The ACR, in its March 26, 2004
letter to us, stated that nuclear medicine is considered a
part of the specialty of radiology. It noted that the
American Board of Radiology certifies diagnostic
radiologists through an examination process that includes
nuclear medicine in both the written and oral exams. The
AMA also recognizes nuclear medicine as a subspecialty of
radiology. The AMA’s “Current Procedural Terminology CPT
2005”, (2004), identifies its “Radiology Guidelines