2025 CPT code 70460
Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head or brain with contrast material.
This code can be used with modifiers. Refer to current CPT guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity for a head CT scan with contrast must be established by documenting the patient's signs, symptoms, or other clinical indicators that justify the procedure. This may include neurological deficits, trauma, suspected vascular abnormalities, or other conditions for which a CT scan is the appropriate diagnostic tool.
The physician or other qualified healthcare professional is responsible for supervising and interpreting the CT scan, including reviewing the images for any abnormalities and making a diagnosis based on the findings.
In simple words: A CT scan of your head or brain is performed using a special X-ray machine. A contrast dye is injected into your vein (or other applicable route), which helps to highlight specific areas of your brain on the images. The scan creates detailed pictures that help doctors diagnose conditions like aneurysms, bleeding, strokes, or tumors.
This code represents a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head or brain performed with the administration of intravenous, intra-articular, or intrathecal contrast material. The procedure involves using a CT scanner to obtain cross-sectional images of the head or brain to diagnose various abnormalities, such as cerebral aneurysms, tumors, or other intracranial pathologies.
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency room with sudden onset of a severe headache, and a CT scan of the head with contrast is ordered to rule out a subarachnoid hemorrhage or other acute intracranial pathology., A patient with a history of seizures undergoes a CT scan of the brain with contrast to evaluate for any structural abnormalities or lesions that may be contributing to their seizures., A patient with a known brain tumor undergoes a follow-up CT scan with contrast to assess the tumor's size, location, and response to treatment.
Documentation should include the reason for the CT scan, the type and route of contrast administration, the interpretation of the images, and any relevant findings or diagnoses. Additionally, the medical record should document any complications or adverse reactions to the contrast material.
- Specialties:Radiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Mobile Unit, Independent Clinic, Federally Qualified Health Center