AMA Clinical Examples in Radiology - 2011 Issue 3 (Summer)
Parathyroid Scan
Parathyroid Scan Clinical History 74-year-old female presents for an assessment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Procedure Parathyroid scan Technique Parathyroid gland imaging was performed on a 74-year-old woman for the assessment A9500 of suspected primary hyperparathyroidism. The patient was injected intravenously with 25 mCi of Tc-99m sestamibi. After 15 minutes, the patient underwent anterior and posterior planar views of the neck and chest area and pinhole views of the neck in the anterior and both anterior oblique projections. Two-hour delayed pinhole images of the neck were obtained in the anterior and both anterior oblique projections to match the earlier images. Without...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews a parathyroid imaging case and the related coding considerations for nuclear medicine reporting. It covers the study technique, the procedure code, the separately reported radiopharmaceutical supply codes, and general billing guidance from professional and payer resources. The material is useful for coders, radiology practices, and nuclear medicine staff who need to understand how this type of study is documented and reported.
Why This Topic Matters
Parathyroid imaging often involves multiple radiopharmaceutical components and specific reporting practices. Understanding the article helps coding teams identify the relevant procedure and supply reporting framework while recognizing the broader documentation and billing context.
Article Sections
-
Clinical History
Introduces the patient context and the reason the imaging study was performed.
-
Procedure
Identifies the imaging study and the general procedure being described.
-
Technique
Summarizes the imaging approach, including the general sequence of acquisition steps used in the study.
-
Findings
Presents the interpreted imaging findings and the overall characterization of the study results.
-
Impression
Provides the radiologist’s summary assessment based on the imaging evaluation.
-
How to Code
Lists the reporting elements associated with the study and its related radiopharmaceutical supplies.
-
Discussion
Explains the broader coding and reimbursement context for nuclear medicine reporting, including discussion of supply reporting and general documentation considerations.
-
Coding Tips
Offers general guidance on reporting radiopharmaceuticals and related nuclear medicine services.
What You Will Learn
- How a parathyroid scintigraphy case is framed for coding review
- Which broad reporting components are associated with the study
- How the article situates nuclear medicine supply reporting within the documentation process
- What general coding and billing issues are discussed for parathyroid imaging
- Which professional organizations and reference materials are cited in connection with the topic
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Radiology coders
- Nuclear medicine staff
- Billing professionals
- Compliance staff
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com
