Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on photodynamic therapy for brain tumours.

Description

Brain tumours may arise from brain tissue or spread from cancers in other parts of the body. Treatment usually consists of an operation to establish the nature of the tumour and, when possible, remove as much of it as seems safe. Photodynamic therapy (often abbreviated to PDT) has been developed as additional therapy (to enhance the effect of surgery) or as a treatment for tumours that are inoperable. Itinvolves giving the patient a drug that makes the tissue sensitive to light. A laser light source is used during the operation and in some cases for a few days afterwards to activate the light‑sensitive substance with the aim of destroying the tumour cells.

OPCS4.6 Code(s):

A code from one of the following OPCS-4 categories is selected:

A01.- Major excision of tissue of brain

A02.- Excision of lesion of tissue of brain

A38.- Extirpation of lesion of meninges of brain

A43.- Other extirpation of lesion of meninges of brain

A subsidiary code Y13.6 Photodynamic therapy of lesion of organ NOC is also required.

In addition an ICD-10 code from categories C70. - Malignant neoplasm of meninges or C71. - Malignant neoplasm of brain or C79.3 Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and cerebral meninges is assigned.

_{The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS.   The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided.  www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding}

Details

Contact details:

Links:

	IPG290 Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours: guidance (web format)	11 February 2011
	IPG290 Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours: guidance	25 March 2009
	IPG290 Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours: understanding NICE guidance	25 March 2009
	IPG290 Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours: understanding NICE guidance (MS Word format)	25 March 2009
	IPG290 Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours: consultation comments	25 March 2009
	Overview of photodynamic therapy for brain tumours	17 November 2008
	Interventional procedures consultation document - photodynamic therapy for brain tumours	17 November 2008