New Codes for PET Studies (June 1996)

Why This Topic Matters

PET was an evolving imaging technology in CPT 1996, and this article helps readers understand how the new study types were organized within the code set. It is relevant for identifying the scope of PET reporting guidance in a historical coding update.

Article Sections

1. June 1996 page 5

   Publication and coding communication context for the update.

2. New Code: 78459

   Overview of one PET study category and the clinical setting in which it is discussed.

3. Illustration of 78459

   General example narrative and imaging workflow context associated with the PET myocardial study category.

4. New Code: 78810

   Overview of a second PET study category and the clinical situations where it is discussed.

5. Illustration of 78810

   General example narrative and imaging workflow context associated with the PET tumor study category.

6. CPT coding perspective and example

   High-level discussion of how PET study categories are distinguished from other procedures, followed by an example pairing PET imaging with another imaging study.

7. CPT Codes for PET

   Summary table identifying PET study categories by body area and evaluation type.