Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Question: We have orders for MRI of the sacrum and pelvis, and the exam includes a complete pelvis and a more narrowed sacrum exam. How should we code this?

Idaho Subscriber

Answer: A single pelvis MRI code should cover both exams. The pelvis codes are appropriate for sacrum MRI exams, according to CPT® Assistant (June 2006). You should choose your code based on the use of contrast:

• 72195, Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, pelvis; without contrast material(s)
• 72196, ... with contrast material(s)
• 72197, ... without contrast material(s), followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences.