Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

PET scan family getting an update

Sources indicate that CPT will add several codes to its 2005 manual relevant to oncology practices, including a bevy of new PET scan codes for use when interpreting tumor PET images.

The official list of CPT code additions, deletions and revisions had not been released at press time, but several expert sources have indicated that beginning on Jan. 1, 2005, CPT will begin accepting the following codes:

79005 - Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by oral administration

79101 - Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intravenous administration

79445 - Radiopharmaceutical therapy, by intra-arterial particulate administration. In addition, CPT appears prepared to release several new tumor positron emission tomography (PET) imaging codes:
78811 - Tumor imaging, positron emission  tomography (PET); limited area (e.g., chest, head/neck)

78812 - Tumor imaging, positron emission  tomography (PET); skull base to mid-thigh

78813 - Tumor imaging, positron emission  tomography (PET); whole body

78814 - Tumor imaging, positron emission  tomography (PET) with concurrently acquired computed tomography (CT) for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; limited area (e.g.,chest,   head/neck)

78815 - Tumor imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) with concurrently acquired computed tomography (CT) for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; skull base to mid-thigh

78816 - Tumor imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) with concurrently acquired computed tomography (CT) for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; whole body. Note: Look for more information about CPT 2005 and how it will affect oncology practices in future editions of Oncology Coding Alert.