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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Non-invasive Vascular Ultrasound

Published on Fri Oct 01, 1999

Question: I am having difficulty differentiating between several non-invasive vascular ultrasound terms and codes. I need a clear explanation of the difference between CPT Codes 93965 and 93970/93971. Can you help?

Boston Subscriber

Answer: All three codes describe diagnostic venous studies of the extremities, notes Deepa Malhotra, coding manager for Healthcare Information Services LLC, in Willowbrook, IL. Code 93970 is a complete bilateral study, while 93971 is assigned to unilateral or limited studies.

Code 93965 is similar, but it provides more detail, including waveform analysis, she says. I would describe these codes as referring to different levels along a continuum. Code 93965 is going to provide a more in-depth look at what is happening, like how the blood is flowing from vessel to vessel.
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