AMA Clinical Examples in Radiology - 2021 Issue 1 (Winter)
Questions and Answers
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Question Answer Does the American College of Radiology (ACR) have any guidance on which Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code to report for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a soft-tissue mass located on the upper back? For soft-tissue MRI of the upper back, it would be appropriate to report a code from the MRI of the chest code family (71550-71552). The proper code to report depends on the use or non-use of contrast material. As stated in the April 2010 issue of CPT® Assistant: To report an MRI of upper-back mass, it is appropriate to use...
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Article Overview
This article compiles radiology coding questions and answers focused on CPT® reporting guidance for imaging services. It addresses how to think about modality-specific reporting across MRI, SPECT, lymphatic imaging, and pelvic ultrasound, and it references CPT® Assistant and the CPT® codebook for contextual guidance. The content is useful for radiology coders, auditors, and reimbursement teams looking for broad coding direction and documentation considerations without needing to interpret the full premium article.
Why This Topic Matters
Radiology imaging coding often depends on exam type, anatomic area, contrast use, and documentation detail. This article helps readers understand which categories of guidance are discussed so they can determine whether the full content is relevant to their coding or compliance needs.
Article Sections
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MRI of an Upper-Back Soft-Tissue Mass
Discusses radiology reporting guidance for MRI of a soft-tissue mass in the upper back and how the topic is framed within chest and spine imaging categories.
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SPECT Imaging After Deletion of a Prior Code
Addresses reporting guidance for tomographic nuclear medicine imaging when a previously used code is no longer available. The section focuses on general imaging scenarios and the timing context for updated reporting.
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MRI Lymphangiograms and Related Imaging Services
Covers lymphatic imaging questions along with associated injection and ultrasound guidance services, and also discusses related MRI studies of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
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Complete Pelvic Ultrasound With Transvaginal Ultrasound
Reviews documentation and reporting considerations for pelvic ultrasound when transabdominal and transvaginal techniques are both used. It also points readers to supporting guidance in the CPT® codebook.
What You Will Learn
- Which broad radiology topics are addressed in the article
- What kinds of CPT® guidance are discussed for MRI, nuclear medicine, lymphatic imaging, and pelvic ultrasound
- What documentation themes are emphasized for combined imaging examinations
- Where the article points readers for additional CPT® guidance on pelvic ultrasound reporting
Who Should Read This
- Radiology coders
- Coding auditors
- Physician practice billing staff
- Revenue cycle teams
- Compliance professionals
- Radiologists
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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