Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Which CPT Codes properly describe a CT IVP examination?

Idaho Subscriber

Answer: A CT IVP (intravenous pyelogram) may mean different things at different practices and for different diagnoses, so check your documentation to determine the exact services your radiologist provided.
 
A CT IVP is most accurately an abdominal and a pelvic CT without contrast followed by with contrast:
 
?Çó 74170 -- Computed tomography, abdomen; without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sections
 
?Çó 72194 -- Computed tomography, pelvis; without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sections.

Some practices perform the examination as ?Ç£with contrast?Ç¥ only for certain diagnoses. Frequently, a CT IVP consists of an unenhanced (non-contrast) helical CT exam of the abdomen and pelvis:
 
?Çó 74150 -- Computed tomography, abdomen; without contrast material
 
?Çó 72192 -- Computed tomography, pelvis; without contrast material.

Note: Codes 74400-74415 describe conventional, plain-film IVP, which involves intravenous contrast administration followed by x-ray (not CT) imaging. You shouldn?ÇÖt use these plain-film codes to described CT IVP.

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