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Before neurological surgery for seizure disorders or resection of brain tumors, localization of certain areas of the brain, such as speech centers, is important. For example, from 25% to 60% of patients who undergo left anterior temporal lobectomy develop dysnomia (language/naming difficulties). Most often these “eloquent” areas are assessed using the Wada test and direct electrical simulation. Both of these tests are invasive and both also require involvement of various specialists. The Wada test involves angiography and injection of amobarbital into the carotid artery. Direct electrical stimulation involves surgical placement of electrodes in the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is proposed as a noninvasive alternative method for evaluation of these eloquent brain areas. Functional MR imaging uses sequences based on T2-weighted blood oxygen. Images are collected as various activities are conducted. Laterality indices are calculated reflecting the interhemispheric difference between activated volumes in the left and right hemispheric regions of interest. These studies are often done on MR scanners with field strengths of 1.5 Tesla or greater. 

Functional MRI is an activation method that uses sequences based on T2-weighted blood oxygen (BOLD). These studies are often done on MR scanners with field strengths of 1.5 Tesla or greater. The interhemispheric difference between activated volumes in the left and right hemispheric regions of interest is calculated as the laterality index, which ranges from -1 to 1. A positive laterality index is considered left-dominant, while a negative laterality index is right dominant. Functional MRI-determined laterality indices may be derived for several different functional areas (regions of interest) that include either Broca’s area (language production) or Wernicke’s area (language comprehension). Various thresholds (e.g., -0.1 to +0.1, or -0.5 to +0.5) have been proposed to differentiate laterality from bilaterality. Bilateral activation patterns can result from the detection of language-associated, but not language-essential cortex. Therefore, bilateral activation is not necessarily indicative of a bilateral distribution of language-essential cortex and may be task dependent. In addition, sensitivity and specificity may change with the application of different statistical thresholds.

Functional MRI is considered investigational for all other applications.

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

3/22/2007: Reviewed and approved by the Medical Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC)

6/19/2009: Policy reviewed, policy statement re-written for clarity

07/09/2010:  Policy description updated regarding use of functional MRI. Added "as a complementary test" to the policy statement; intent unchanged. FEP verbiage added to the Policy Exceptions section.

08/02/2011: Policy reviewed; no changes.

07/17/2012: Policy reviewed; no changes.

The code(s) listed below are ONLY covered if the procedure is performed according to the "Policy" section of this document.   

Covered Codes

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