Amyloid PET ordering practices in a memory disorders clinic.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans aid in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• Understanding current ordering patterns within the Veterans Affairs (VA) system is crucial for future healthcare policy.
• Assessing the utilization of advanced neuroimaging in memory disorder clinics provides insights into diagnostic practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the frequency and appropriateness of amyloid PET scan ordering in a VA memory disorders clinic.
• To identify clinical characteristics associated with amyloid PET scan orders.
• To determine the proportion of eligible patients who received amyloid PET scans.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 565 veterans' medical records in a VA memory disorders clinic.
• Assessment of clinical features predictive of amyloid PET scan ordering.
• Evaluation of patient adherence to appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET scans.

Main Results:

• 34.9% of veterans received an amyloid PET scan, with 98.0% meeting appropriate use criteria.
• Patients receiving PET scans were younger and more likely to have an initial diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• 64.4% of patients who did not receive a scan met the criteria for its use.

Conclusions:

• The majority of amyloid PET scans ordered in this VA memory clinic adhered to appropriate use criteria.
• A significant number of eligible patients did not receive amyloid PET scans, indicating potential underutilization.
• Findings have implications for memory disorder clinics within and beyond the VA system regarding diagnostic imaging access and utilization.