Radiology Coding Alert

Question:Which codes should I report for contrast-enhanced MRI scans of the brain and the entire spine with a diagnosis of acoustic neurofibromatosis?New Jersey SubscriberAnswer:To report the MRI scans, choose the "with contrast" code for each region of the spine:72142 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; with contrast material(s)72147 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, thoracic; with contrast material(s)72149 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; with contrast material(s).You should report the brain MRI using 70552 (Magnetic resonance [e.g., proton] imaging, brain [including brain stem]; with contrast material[s]).For the diagnosis, you should report 237.72 (Neurofibromatosis, type 2 [acoustic neurofibromatosis]). Often, patients with this inherited disorder have a tumor, known as a vestibulocochlear schwannoma, on cranial nerve VIII. The tumor may cause hearing loss. A schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor made of Schwann cells.Look ahead: A code proposed for ICD-9 [...]