2025 CPT code 78605
Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Radiology - Nuclear Medicine Feed
Brain imaging, minimum 4 static views.
Modifiers 26 (Professional Component) and TC (Technical Component) are applicable. Modifier 59 may be applicable to indicate a distinct procedural service. Other modifiers, such as 52 (Reduced Services) or 53 (Discontinued Procedure), might be necessary depending on the circumstances.
Medical necessity for 78605 is established when the procedure is performed to evaluate a specific medical condition affecting brain function, such as dementia, seizures, or suspected cerebrovascular disease. The documentation should clearly link the procedure to the patient's symptoms and clinical presentation.
The physician prepares and administers the radiopharmaceutical, operates the imaging equipment, and interprets the resulting images to diagnose brain abnormalities or diseases. They are responsible for the patient's safety and the accurate performance and interpretation of the study.
In simple words: A special type of brain scan that uses a tiny amount of radioactive material to take pictures of your brain and see how it's working. The doctor will inject, have you inhale, or have you swallow the material. Then, a special camera takes pictures that show how the material moves through your brain. This helps doctors find any problems.
Nuclear diagnostic imaging of the brain using a radiopharmaceutical substance to examine brain function, including four or more static (planar, two-dimensional) views.
Example 1: A patient with suspected Alzheimer's disease undergoes brain imaging with 78605 to assess brain function and detect patterns consistent with the disease., Following a head injury, a patient receives this scan to evaluate for cerebral perfusion defects or other abnormalities., A patient with seizures undergoes brain imaging to identify the location of seizure onset and guide treatment strategies.
Documentation should include the medical necessity for the procedure (e.g., signs, symptoms, or diagnoses), the radiopharmaceutical used, the number and type of views obtained, and the physician's interpretation of the images, including any relevant findings or impressions.
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC is applicable when reporting the technical component only.
- Specialties:Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Neurology
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic, and other locations where nuclear medicine studies are performed.