Wiki Cerebral Carotid Angiography

schuchmanb

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Is it appropriate to code the S&I for bilateral cerebral carotids (75671) when only one side is injected but both hemispheres are visualized due to collateralization/overflow/reflux? (One specific exam I have states "intracranial circulation on the left collateralizes to the right hemisphere via a patent anterior communicating".) I know you don't need a selective cath placement to use the cerebral carotid codes, but I thought I had heard you can't code them from the reflux, but I can't seem to find that in writing anywhere.

Any help and/or where to find the answer to this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Barbara
 
It's been said in RBMA seminars that you could code the contralateral vertebral angiogram from reflux but I've never heard the question asked of the carotid arteries. Personally I would not code for it. Part of the internal carotid artery is cerebral and I doubt if the contrast refluxed all the way down to that point so you wouldn't have a complete exam.

Diane Huston, CPC, RCC
 
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