Wiki MRI Spinal Survey

[nbohm]

In all my years of radiology coding I guess I have never seen this but report reads MRI Spinal Survey with the body of the report indicating cervical, thoracic, and lumbar abnormalities. The only cpt I find for this is 76498 which is unlisted and what we try to avoid. Is that the most appropriate or is there another cpt that I am missing?

Thanks
Nikki
MO

 

[srinivas r sajja]

Question: Which CPT code should I use for a total spine MRI without contrast?

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.