Imaging CPT codes

MRI of the lumbar spinal canal and its contents performed first without contrast, then repeated after contrast administration for enhanced visualization.

Brain and brainstem MRI performed in one session with non-contrast sequences followed by sequences after gadolinium contrast.

Cervical spine MRI with a non-contrast sequence set followed by contrast-enhanced images in the same session.

Thoracic spine MRI performed first without contrast and then repeated after contrast during one imaging session.

Chest MRI performed in one session with non-contrast sequences first and then repeat sequences after gadolinium contrast.

Pelvic MRI with a non-contrast image set followed by contrast-enhanced images, interpreted together in one session.

Radiologic supervision and interpretation for selective angiography of the spinal arteries, including image documentation and formal written report.

MRI of a shoulder, elbow, or wrist joint done first without contrast and then repeated after IV contrast is given, usually for infection, tumor, or postoperative questions.

MRI of a lower extremity region other than a joint, done without contrast and then with contrast, often for a mass, infection, or tumor in the thigh, leg, or foot.

MRI of a hip, knee, or ankle joint done first without contrast and then with IV contrast, used for infection, tumor, inflammatory arthritis, or complex postoperative cases.

CT of the abdomen and pelvis with a non-contrast series followed by one or more contrast series, used when both phases are needed to answer the clinical question.

Radiological supervision and interpretation of a catheter angiogram of the arteries in both arms or both legs.

CT angiography of one lower extremity with contrast, including any non-contrast images and the image post-processing, to map the arteries of the leg.

CT angiography of the chest vessels with contrast, including image post-processing, most often used to look for pulmonary embolism.

Magnetic resonance angiography of a lower extremity, with or without contrast, to evaluate leg arteries or veins for occlusion, injury, or vascular malformation.

CT of the abdomen and pelvis together with IV contrast, commonly used in trauma and infection workups, including fevers and abscess concerns after orthopedic or spine surgery.

Magnetic resonance angiography of the neck vessels done without contrast and then with contrast, showing the carotid and vertebral arteries.

Magnetic resonance angiography of the chest vessels, excluding the heart muscle, performed with or without contrast.

Magnetic resonance angiography of the pelvic vessels, with or without contrast, to evaluate arterial or venous flow in the pelvis.

Magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen, with or without contrast, to evaluate the aorta and its branches, renal arteries, or mesenteric vessels.

MRI of the thoracic spine performed with contrast (gadolinium) to evaluate the spinal canal and its contents.

Brain and brainstem MRI acquired only after a gadolinium contrast injection, with no non-contrast sequences in the same session.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine performed only after a contrast agent is given, without a separate non-contrast sequence set.

Lumbar spine MRI performed only with contrast, without a separate set of non-contrast images during the same exam.

Radiological supervision and interpretation of a catheter angiogram of the arteries in one arm or one leg.

CT of the abdomen and pelvis together, done without contrast, used for kidney stones, bleeding, and in orthopedic care for retroperitoneal hematoma or psoas abscess concerns.

MRI of the pelvis performed with contrast only, used for bone, joint, and soft tissue questions in the pelvic region.

Magnetic resonance angiography of an upper extremity, with or without contrast, to evaluate the arteries or veins of the arm for blockage, injury, or compression.

MRI of an upper extremity joint performed with contrast material — covers shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand joints.

MRI of the orbit, face, or neck soft tissues performed only after a gadolinium contrast injection, without a non-contrast series in the same session.

MRI of a hip, knee, or ankle joint performed with contrast only, including MR arthrograms where contrast is placed directly into the joint.

Magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate bone marrow blood supply, assessing marrow perfusion and composition across one or more regions.

Radiologic supervision and interpretation of CT used to guide a needle into position, most often for a biopsy, aspiration, or localization.

Radiologic supervision and interpretation of MRI used to guide a needle into position for a biopsy, aspiration, injection, or localization.

MRI of the thoracic spinal canal and its contents performed without contrast material.

Non-contrast MRI of the lumbar spine used to evaluate disc pathology, spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, and other structural abnormalities without administration of contrast material.

MRI of the cervical spinal canal and its contents performed without contrast material.

MRI of one or both temporomandibular joints to evaluate the disc, condyle, and surrounding soft tissue.

MRI of the brain and brainstem done without any contrast agent, often the first advanced study when symptoms point to a central nervous system cause.

MRI of the pelvis performed without contrast material, producing soft-tissue images of pelvic structures without intravenous dye administration.

Non-contrast MRI of the chest, used for masses of the chest wall, mediastinum, or nearby soft tissues.

MRI of the lower extremity (excluding joint) performed without contrast material

MRI of any upper extremity joint — shoulder, elbow, or wrist — performed without contrast material.

MRI of a lower extremity joint (hip, knee, or ankle) performed without contrast material.

MRI of an upper extremity region other than a joint, done without contrast, such as the forearm or upper arm, for masses, muscle injury, or soft tissue problems.

Non-contrast CT focused on a small region of the skull: the orbits, the sella, the posterior fossa, or the outer, middle, or inner ear.

Non-contrast CT of the soft tissues of the neck, such as the airway, glands, lymph nodes, and muscles, separate from imaging of the cervical spine.

Head and brain CT done in two passes during one session, first without intravenous contrast and then again after contrast is injected.

Facial bone and sinus CT performed in one session with a non-contrast series followed by a series after intravenous contrast.

Cervical spine CT acquired first without contrast and then repeated after contrast, with both image sets interpreted together.

Lumbar spine CT with an initial non-contrast scan followed by a post-contrast scan in the same session, read as one study.

Lumbar spine CT done with contrast, including CT performed after contrast is placed into the spinal canal for a myelogram.

Cervical spine CT performed after contrast is given, either intravenously or intrathecally, including CT done after a myelogram.

Thoracic spine CT performed with contrast, given by vein or into the spinal canal, commonly as part of a CT myelogram.

Radiological supervision and interpretation for percutaneous drainage of an abscess or fluid collection using fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or CT guidance, with catheter placement.

Radiological supervision and interpretation of cervical or thoracic discography, reported once for each disc level studied.

CT scan of an upper extremity performed with intravenous contrast only, used when the clinician needs to see soft tissue enhancement, infection, or a mass in the arm.

Radiological supervision and interpretation of a catheter-based thoracic aortogram done with serial imaging to capture contrast flow over time.

Computed tomography of the head and brain performed only after intravenous contrast is given, with no non-contrast images in the same study.

Computed tomography of the facial bones and sinuses done only after intravenous contrast, used when infection, abscess, or a mass is suspected.