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Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

SPECT Changes Your Parathyroid Coding

Published on Sat Mar 07, 2009

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).
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