Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Our physician was doing a diagnostic imaging of the vertebral artery. For this imaging procedure, he gave an injection into the subclavian artery. For this procedure, which code can we submit: 75710 or 36255?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: Form the procedure described, your physician is doing a subclavian catheterization for a vertebral angiogram. For this procedure, you would report code 36225 (Selective catheter placement, subclavian or innominate artery, unilateral, with angiography of the ipsilateral vertebral circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation, includes angiography of the cervicocerebral arch, when performed). The code descriptor clearly states that the catheter is placed in the subclavian or innominate artery and the vertebral circulation on the same side is imaged and studied.

You do not report code 75710 (Angiography, extremity, unilateral, radiological supervision and interpretation) as this is for angiography in an extremity and not in vertebral circulation.

Note: Code 36225 is inclusive of any cervicocerebral arch angiography, if done, and radiological supervision and interpretation.