AMA Clinical Examples in Radiology - 2024 Issue 3 (Summer)
Radiology Test Case Answer
Summer 2024 page 23 RADIOLOGY TEST CASE ANSWER: Hepatosplenic Scintigraphy HOW TO CODE 78216 Liver and spleen imaging; with vascular flow A9541 Technetium Tc-99m sulfur colloid, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 20 millicuries K73.9 Chronic hepatitis, unspecified DISCUSSION This report describes a liver-spleen scan, which is a nuclear medicine study that uses a radiotracer to evaluate the liver and spleen. It would be appropriate to report code 78216 for this study. Hepatosplenic scintigraphy can be performed for many different indications, including jaundice, hepatitis, liver abscess, cirrhosis, ascites, and neoplasms. Hepatosplenic scintigraphy, typically performed with Technetium Tc-99m sulfur colloid...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews a radiology test case involving hepatosplenic scintigraphy and discusses how the study is represented in common medical coding systems. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and radiology professionals who need to understand the coding context for nuclear medicine liver-spleen imaging, radiopharmaceutical reporting, and diagnosis coding references used in the case.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate reporting for nuclear medicine studies depends on distinguishing the imaging procedure, the radiopharmaceutical, and the diagnosis code used to support the service. This article helps readers recognize the scope of the case and the coding references involved without substituting for the full premium guidance.
Article Sections
-
Summer 2024 page 23
Introductory case identification and placement within the source publication.
-
How to Code
A coding-focused summary of the case with references to the relevant procedure, radiopharmaceutical, and diagnosis code sets.
-
Discussion
General discussion of hepatosplenic scintigraphy, imaging variations, and the broader documentation and reporting context for nuclear medicine services.
-
Sources
Bibliographic references cited by the article, including professional and government guidance documents.
What You Will Learn
- The coding frameworks referenced for a hepatosplenic scintigraphy case
- How the article frames the relationship between the procedure, radiopharmaceutical, and diagnosis reporting
- The kinds of nuclear medicine imaging variations discussed in the case context
- Which external guidance sources are cited for the example
Who Should Read This
- Radiology coders
- Hospital outpatient billing staff
- Nuclear medicine professionals
- Health information management teams
- Coding educators and auditors
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.


Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com