Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Which CPT code should I use for a total spine MRI without contrast? Arkansas Subscriber Answer: You won't find a single CPT code that describes a "total spine" MRI, but you may report a code for each region the radiologist examines: • 72141 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; without contrast material • 72146 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, thoracic; without contrast material • 72148 -- Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, lumbar; without contrast material. Support: Reporting all three spine regions (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) is appropriate when the radiologist performs and interprets an MRI of all three regions, according to the July/August 2003 issue of The ACR's Radiology Coding Source. The ACR recommends that the radiologist dictate separate reports for each separate region studied. -- The answers for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Michele [...]