Hyperthermia in Cancer Therapy

Aetna considers cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC medically necessary for pseudomyxoma peritonei (including DPAM and peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis), peritoneal mesothelioma, goblet cell carcinoid, HIPEC with cisplatin at the time of interval debulking for FIGO stage III ovarian cancer, and regional hyperthermic melphalan perfusion for stage II, IIIA, and stage III in‑transit extremity melanoma — with HIPEC required to be performed with cytoreductive surgery and the specified agent/stage combinations. All other uses of hyperthermia (including deep hyperthermia alone or with radiation; interstitial, intracavitary, or intraluminal hyperthermia) and HIPEC for the long list of other cancers or for peritoneal surface malignancy other than pseudomyxoma peritonei or peritoneal mesothelioma are experimental/investigational and not covered.

"INFERRED LIMITATION: High perioperative morbidity and mortality documented in several series; potential increased risk should be considered in patient selection (references: Kusamura S morbidity/mo..."