Radiology Coding Alert

Question: My radiologist provided radiological supervision and interpretation for vessel imaging, but I'm not sure whether to report 75605 or 75650. What's the difference? And can I report them together?

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Answer: Code 75605 (Aortography, thoracic, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation) describes visualization of the thoracic (also referred to as the descending aorta), and 75650 (Angiography, cervicocerebral, catheter, including vessel origin, radiological supervision and interpretation) describes an aortic arch study.

Pay attention to the documentation: Did your radiologist describe the origins of the great vessels? You'll see that 75650 includes "vessel origin."

Helpful: You may report the codes together, according to the AMA. But the radiologist should document that he performed separate exams.

Example 1: If the physician injected contrast for arch imaging but also described part of the descending aorta, you should not report 75605 with 75650.

Example 2: If the physician introduces the catheter into the aorta with injection procedures for an arch aortography, thoracic aortography and abdominal aortography, you would report, 75650, 75605 and 75625 (Aortography, abdominal, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation), according to the AMA's Principles of CPT Coding.