Radiology Coding Challenge: Total Spine MRI Without Contrast

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., [...] Related articles:

Which HCPCS Code Should I Use for Eovist MRI contrast? Question: Which HCPCS code should I use to report...
Radiology Coding Challenge: Rate Your Reformatting SkillsQuestion: My radiology report documents axial CT slices from the...
Radiology Coding Challenge: Why is Medicare Denying a 38792, 78195 ClaimTip: Discover true meaning of 38792 note Question: The physician...

MRI sagittal image of sacral and dorso-lumbar perineural cysts. Malisan.mrosa.

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.