2025 CPT code 78701
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Radiology - Nuclear Medicine Feed
Kidney imaging (morphology), with vascular flow.
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate specific circumstances, such as reduced services or bilateral procedures. Refer to current CPT coding guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity must be established for this procedure. The documentation should clearly indicate the clinical rationale for performing the kidney scan, linking it to the patient's symptoms, signs, or other diagnostic results.
The physician performing the procedure is responsible for administering the radiopharmaceutical, acquiring the images, interpreting the results, and generating a report. They must also ensure patient safety during the nuclear medicine procedure.
In simple words: A kidney scan uses a special dye and a camera to take pictures of your kidneys. This helps doctors check the size and shape of your kidneys and how well blood is flowing to them.
This code represents a nuclear medicine procedure focused on kidney imaging to assess morphology and vascular flow. It involves the injection of a radiopharmaceutical agent followed by imaging using a gamma camera to visualize the kidneys and their blood supply. This allows for evaluation of kidney structure, size, and blood perfusion.
Example 1: A patient with suspected renal artery stenosis undergoes a kidney scan with vascular flow to assess the blood supply to the kidneys., A patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections undergoes a kidney scan to evaluate for structural abnormalities or scarring., A patient with a known kidney mass undergoes a kidney scan to assess the size and vascularity of the mass.
Documentation should include the reason for the scan, the radiopharmaceutical used, the imaging findings, the physician's interpretation, and any relevant patient history or physical exam findings.
- Specialties:Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Nephrology, Urology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic