Question: If we perform SPECT imaging with planar images for parathyroid imaging, which code(s) should we report?
Indiana Subscriber
Answer: The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) supports reporting one unit of 78803 (Radiopharmaceutical localization of tumor or distribution of radiopharmaceutical agent[s]; tomographic) for SPECT with or without planar images.
SNM emphatically states, "We would NOT recommend coding for both SPECT and planar imaging" (http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=7645&RPID=1995).
If the provider acquired only planar images, you should report one unit of 78070 (Parathyroid imaging).
