In simple words: This is a set of X-ray images of your belly and chest taken from different angles. It helps doctors quickly figure out what's causing severe stomach pain.

This code represents a complete acute abdomen series, including two or more views of the abdomen from different positions (such as supine, erect, or decubitus) and a single view of the chest. It is used to assess patients with suspected acute abdominal conditions requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The abdominal views cover organs like the stomach, liver, spleen, large and small intestines, and diaphragm. The chest X-ray is included to rule out thoracic causes of abdominal pain.

Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department with sudden, severe abdominal pain. Code 74022 is used to evaluate for possible causes, such as appendicitis, bowel obstruction, or perforation., A patient with a history of abdominal pain experiences worsening symptoms. Code 74022 is used for further investigation and to monitor any changes since previous imaging., A trauma patient presents with abdominal tenderness. Code 74022 aids in assessing for internal injuries or bleeding within the abdomen.

Documentation should specify the number and type of abdominal views (e.g., supine, erect, decubitus), confirmation of a single chest view, and the clinical indication for the study (e.g., suspected acute abdomen).