CPT 2026 Code Set Changes

Why This Topic Matters

Annual CPT updates affect documentation review, charge capture, reporting workflows, and code maintenance. This article helps readers identify which areas of radiology and related procedures were changed for 2026 and which organizations and effective dates are involved.

Article Sections

1. New Category I Codes

   Introduces newly added Category I services and notes the effective date for reporting. The section is organized by procedure area and references related guideline updates.

2. Head and Neck Computed Tomographic Angiography

   Covers a newly added combined imaging service and related parenthetical guidance. It also references associated cross-references to other code families.

3. Computed Tomography Cerebral Perfusion

   Describes new reporting options for cerebral perfusion services and notes the deletion of an earlier temporary code. The section links the topic to acute stroke-related use and imaging workflows.

4. Prostate Biopsy

   Summarizes a restructured set of prostate biopsy reporting options, including new code additions, guideline changes, and deletion of an older code. It distinguishes multiple biopsy approaches and imaging-related variations at a high level.

5. Percutaneous Carpal Tunnel Release

   Introduces a new code for a minimally invasive carpal tunnel procedure and notes that it is distinct from other surgical approaches. Related exclusion guidance is referenced.

6. Irreversible Electroporation

   Covers new reporting options for irreversible electroporation and a revision to an existing temporary code. The section is framed around percutaneous tumor ablation services.

7. Thoracic Branch Endograft Services

   Describes new endograft-related reporting options and associated revisions and deletions in a thoracic aorta subsection. It also mentions updated radiology supervision and interpretation guidance.

8. Lower Extremity Vascular Procedures

   Summarizes a broad reorganization of lower-extremity vascular reporting, including multiple new subsections and guideline revisions. The section also notes deleted legacy codes and the general structure of territory-based coding.

9. Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque Assessment

   Introduces a new coronary plaque assessment reporting option and notes deletion of a related temporary code range. The topic is presented in the context of coronary computed tomography angiography.

10. Radiation Oncology Treatment Delivery

    Describes revisions to radiation treatment delivery coding and guidelines, including clarification of delivery levels and deletion of older codes. The section references related treatment modalities and reporting terminology.

11. Superficial Radiation Therapy

    Covers new surface radiation therapy reporting options and deletion of an earlier temporary code. The section also mentions related coding relationships and exclusions.

12. Category III Codes

    Summarizes early-released and future-dated Category III updates. The section groups several emerging technologies and procedure types with their release timing.

13. Benign Prostate Ablation With High Intensity–Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)

    Introduces a temporary code for a prostate ablation technology and references a related malignant-prostate alternative. The discussion is limited to the high-level purpose of the code.

14. Hemodynamic Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Monitoring

    Covers temporary codes for implantable IVC monitoring and remote monitoring services. The section emphasizes device-related monitoring and reporting intervals at a broad level.

15. Laser Ablation of Breast Tumor

    Describes temporary codes for percutaneous laser ablation of benign and malignant breast tumors. The section notes that the topic includes imaging guidance references.

16. Neurovascular Optical Coherence Tomography

    Introduces temporary add-on codes for optical coherence tomography imaging of cerebral vessels. The section distinguishes extracranial and intracranial vessel imaging at a general level.

17. The following Category III codes will be available for reporting in 2026.

    Introduces additional temporary codes scheduled for 2026 reporting. The section groups several emerging service types before the specific code listings that follow.

18. Tissue Displacement

    Covers new temporary codes for percutaneous tissue displacement services used to support access or treatment. The section groups these by anatomic region.

19. Tumor Treating Fields Dosimetry

    Describes a temporary code for dosimetry and delivery simulation modeling in alternating electric fields therapy. The section presents the service as device-assisted treatment planning support.

20. Surface Mesh Volume

    Introduces a new set of codes related to digital three-dimensional models derived from surface mesh files. The section notes that accompanying guidelines are being released with the code set.

21. Revised Codes

    Summarizes codes and guideline updates that have been revised rather than newly created. The section includes multiple procedure families and mentions effective timing.

22. Endovascular Therapy

    Covers revisions to endovascular therapy reporting and subsection guidelines. It also references bundling-related review activity and associated radiological supervision language.

23. Sacroiliac (SI) Arthrodesis

    Summarizes revisions to sacroiliac arthrodesis codes and guidelines, including clarification of intended use. The section also references bilateral reporting and hybrid procedures.

24. Deleted Codes

    Lists codes removed from the CPT 2026 code set and provides broad context for the deletions. The section organizes deleted items by their prior procedure categories.