AMA CPT® Assistant - 2018 Issue 10 (October)
Distinction Between Vascular Families and Vascular Territories (October 2018)
October 2018 pages 3-4 Distinction Between Vascular Families and Vascular Territories The terms “vascular family” and “vascular territory” have been increasingly used in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ® ) code descriptors or introductory guidelines as technological improvements have expanded the capability of vascular system selective and superselective catheterization. There has been some confusion because of the similarity of the terms and because these terms are used somewhat interchangeably within the CPT code set (eg, “vascular territory” is used in the lower extremity and central nervous system [CNS] codes, while “vascular family” is used in the abdominal visceral code set)...
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Article Overview
This premium article is a CPT-focused educational piece that clarifies two closely related anatomic coding concepts used in vascular procedure guidance. It is intended for coders and billing professionals who work with selective and superselective catheterization, diagnostic angiography, and related CPT introductory guidelines. The article discusses how these concepts are applied across different vascular regions and how the CPT Editorial Panel’s Appendix L revisions fit into the 2019 code set.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding these terms helps readers interpret CPT vascular guidance consistently across anatomic regions and supports accurate review of catheterization and angiography code families. The article is useful for professionals who need to read CPT descriptors and introductory guidelines with confidence.
Article Sections
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October 2018 pages 3-4
Introductory material identifying the article’s publication context and subject area.
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Distinction Between Vascular Families and Vascular Territories
Overview of the two terms, why they are sometimes confused, and how the article frames the CPT guidance update.
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Vascular Family
Discussion of how vascular families are organized for arterial and venous anatomy and how CPT addresses branch-order concepts in this context.
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Vascular Territory
Explanation of vascular territories as anatomic regions and how they relate to different vascular families and broader regional supply patterns.
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Reference
Cited background source supporting the article’s anatomical discussion.
What You Will Learn
- How CPT distinguishes related vascular anatomy concepts used in procedural guidance
- Why vascular family and vascular territory are not interchangeable terms
- How the article situates these concepts within CPT updates and introductory guidelines
- How the discussion relates broadly to angiography and catheterization coding
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding educators
- Billing staff
- Radiology and interventional specialty professionals
- Compliance teams
Codes Discussed
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