Radiology Coding Alert

Question: My report documents axial CT slices from the orbits to the thoracic inlet and of the larynx. And there are sagittal and coronal computer reconstruction images. Which CPT codes should I report?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: You'll need only one CPT code for this report: 70491 (Computed tomography, soft tissue neck; with contrast material[s]).

You should not report reconstruction codes 76376- 76377 (3D rendering with interpretation and reporting of computed tomography ...) because converting axial scans into the coronal and sagittal planes is 2D reformatting, which you should not report separately.

Codes 76376 and 76377, as the descriptors indicate, are specific to 3D reformatting.