2025 CPT code 78018
Effective Date: N/A Radiology - Nuclear Medicine Feed
Thyroid carcinoma metastases imaging; whole body.
Modifiers may be applicable in certain circumstances, such as reduced services or repeat procedures.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of known or suspected thyroid cancer and the need to assess for the presence and extent of metastasis.
A nuclear radiologist or other qualified physician performs the procedure, which involves administering a radiopharmaceutical and capturing images.
In simple words: This is a special type of scan used to see if thyroid cancer has spread anywhere else in the body. It uses a small amount of radioactive material that helps doctors see where the cancer cells are.
This code represents a whole-body imaging procedure used to detect thyroid carcinoma metastases. It involves the administration of a radiopharmaceutical, followed by imaging to identify the presence and location of any thyroid cancer that may have spread to other parts of the body.
Example 1: A patient with a history of thyroid cancer undergoes this scan to check for recurrence or metastasis., Following thyroid surgery, a whole-body scan is performed to assess the extent of the disease., A patient with elevated thyroglobulin levels but no detectable tumor in the neck undergoes a whole-body scan to search for metastatic disease.
Documentation should include medical history, physical exam findings, reason for the scan, type of radiopharmaceutical used, dosage, and the interpretation of the images.
- Specialties:Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Oncology, Endocrinology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic