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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Report 61050 for Cervical Puncture

Published on Tue Sep 23, 2003

Question: I performed a diagnostic puncture at C1-C2. When I perform these procedures at the lumbar level, I report 62270, but there isn't a similar code for the cervical spine. Should I report the unlisted-procedure code? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: No. You should report 61050* (Cisternal or lateral cervical [C1-C2] puncture; without injection [separate procedure]) if you performed the cervical puncture without injection.

In addition, if you performed fluoroscopic guidance you should report 76005 (Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures [epidural, transforaminal epidural, subarachnoid, paraver-tebral facet joint, paravertebral facet joint nerve or sacroiliac joint], including neurolytic agent destruction). Remember to append modifier -26 (Professional component) to 76005 if the hospital or facility owns the fluoroscopy equipment.  
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