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Radiology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Compare Contrast Rules

Published on Tue May 23, 2006

Question: What code should I use when the techs do a CT scan of the abdomen and the patient drinks the contrast material?


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Answer: The correct code is CPT 74150 (Computed tomography, abdomen; without contrast material).

Reason: CPT guidelines instruct you that “with contrast … represents contrast material administered intravascularly, intra-articularly, or intrathecally.”

If your patient drinks the contrast or the provider administers the contrast rectally, CPT tells you that this does not qualify as a “with contrast” study.
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