Wiki angiography help needed

[kparkhurst]

I'm performing an audit and I keep seeing code 75685 used for intracranial views of the common carotid. Wouldn't the cerebral carotid codes (75665/75671) be the correct codes to use?

 

[chembree]

From what I have been told...

75665/75670 decribe cerbral imaging of the Carotids or "Internals" arteries!

75676/75680 decribe cervical imaging or "Common Carotids studies"


Hope this helps,
Christy, CPC

 

[davidzielske]

Code 75685 is used to describe imaging of the cervical and/or cerebral portions of the right or left vertebral artery. It is a unilateral code. The cerebral portion would include description of the "posterior fossa", the basilar artery or the AICA, PICA and Posterior cerebral arteries, that all arise off the vertebral or basilar artery. The carotid circulation (anterior 2/3rds of the brain) is described by unilateral or bilateral cerebral carotid codes 75665 and 75671 respectively. Dr.z