Radiology Coding Alert

Question: What are the meanings of the different planes and views for radiological services?

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: Planes include:

• Coronal (frontal): This is the vertical plane dividing the body into front and back sections

• Sagittal: This vertical plane divides the body into equal left and right sections

• Transverse: This horizontal plane divides the body into top and bottom sections.

Views you'll see radiologists document include the following:

• Anteroposterior (AP): front to back

• Apical: chest including lung apex to minimize the rib image overlapping a lung lesion

• Bucky: film placed in a device that eliminates secondary radiation

• Decubitus (DEC): lying on side

• LAO (left anterior oblique): left front

• LPO (left posterior oblique): left rear

• Oblique: angled view

• Odontoid: open-mouth cervical spine view to identify joint space C1

• Posteroanterior (PA): back to front

• RAO (right anterior oblique): right front

• RPO (right posterior oblique): right rear

• Stereo: two views of a structure, one at 90 degrees to the film and second with tube angled 12 degrees to 15 degrees toward the head

• Swimmers: thoracic x-ray with one or both arms over head.

You may also see directions and positions such as the following:

• Anterior (ventral): front

• Distal: farthest away from center

• Inferior: below

• Lateral: side

• Medial: middle

• Posterior (dorsal): back

• Prone: face down or palm down

• Proximal: nearest to the center

• Superior: above

• Supine: face up or palm up.

Example: When you report 71020 (Radiologic examination, chest, two views, frontal and lateral), you're reporting chest views taken from the front and the side. If the radiologist adds oblique (angled view) projections, you should report 71022 (... with oblique projections) instead.