Radiology Coding Alert

Question: What would be the correct CPT® code(s) for an MRI Spine Survey?

New York Subscriber

Answer: You won’t find a single code that describes a “total spine” MRI. You may report a code for each region that your radiologist examines. Accordingly, you may report one or more of the following codes: 

• 72141, Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; without contrast material
• 72146, Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, thoracic; without contrast material
• 72148, Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material

You may submit all three codes, 72141, 72146, and 72148, for reporting all three spine regions (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar). This is the most appropriate approach when the radiologist performs and interprets an MRI of all three regions. You should also make sure your radiologist dictates separate reports for each separate region studied.