2025 CPT code 93880
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Diagnostic - Non-Invasive Vascular Diagnostic Studies Medicine Services and Procedures Feed
Duplex scan of extracranial arteries; complete bilateral study.
Modifiers 26 (professional component) and TC (technical component) may be applicable depending on the setting and who performs the procedure.
Medical necessity for a complete bilateral duplex scan (93880) is typically established by the presence of symptoms suggestive of cerebrovascular disease (e.g., TIA, stroke, bruit), pre-operative assessment for high-risk procedures (e.g., CABG), or post-operative evaluation of carotid artery surgery. The physician should document the clinical indication for the procedure, and it should be reasonable and necessary for the patient's condition.
The physician or a technician performs the duplex scanning procedure using a probe to emit ultrasound pulses. The reflected echoes create an image that shows the blood flow and vessel structure. The physician interprets the results.
In simple words: This test uses ultrasound to check the blood flow in the arteries in your neck. It creates pictures and measures how fast the blood is moving to see if there are any blockages or problems.
This CPT code encompasses a comprehensive duplex scan of the extracranial arteries bilaterally.The procedure involves the use of ultrasound technology to visualize and assess blood flow patterns in arteries of the head and neck region.This includes real-time imaging integrating B-mode two-dimensional vascular structure, Doppler spectral analysis, and color flow Doppler imaging. The detailed analysis provides information on arterial stenosis, occlusion, and other vascular abnormalities.
Example 1: A patient presents with symptoms suggestive of carotid artery stenosis, such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or a bruit. A complete bilateral duplex scan (93880) is performed to assess the carotid arteries for stenosis, plaque formation, or other abnormalities. This helps guide treatment decisions, such as surgical intervention or medical management., Pre-operative assessment of a patient scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reveals a history of systemic atherosclerosis. A complete duplex scan (93880) is performed to evaluate the carotid arteries for significant stenosis that could increase the risk of stroke during or after the CABG procedure., A patient presents post carotid endarterectomy with persistent symptoms.A duplex scan (93880) is performed to evaluate the patency of the carotid artery, assess for recurrent stenosis or other complications, and guide further management.
* Patient's history and physical examination findings relevant to cerebrovascular disease.* Detailed description of the ultrasound technique used (e.g., duplex scan, B-mode imaging, Doppler spectral analysis, color flow imaging).* Images from the study clearly demonstrating the anatomical structures assessed.* Measurement of vessel diameters and blood flow velocities, including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI).* Detailed description of any abnormalities detected, including location, severity, and extent.* Physician's interpretation and report summarizing the findings and clinical implications.
** This code is used for a complete bilateral study.A limited study may be reported with separate codes if fewer arterial territories are evaluated.
- Revenue Code: I3D (ECHOGRAPHY - CAROTID ARTERIES)
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC is applicable if the technical component is billed separately from the professional component.
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, Neurology, Cardiology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center