2025 CPT code 78315
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Diagnostic Imaging - Nuclear Medicine Procedures Radiology Feed
Three-phase bone scan (scintigraphy) to evaluate bone health and detect abnormalities.
Modifiers 26 (professional component) and TC (technical component) are applicable depending on the services provided.Other modifiers may be applicable based on specific circumstances, as defined by payer policy and coding guidelines.
Medical necessity is established when the three-phase bone scan is ordered to evaluate bone pain of unknown origin, to assess for fracture, infection (osteomyelitis), or metastasis in a patient with known malignancy.
The physician's responsibility includes injecting the radionuclide, acquiring and interpreting the three-phase bone scan images, and providing a report detailing findings.
- Radiology
- Radiology Procedures > Nuclear Medicine Procedures > Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System
In simple words: This test uses a special dye injected into a vein to create images of your bones. The pictures are taken at different times to show how well blood flows to your bones and how the bones are absorbing the dye.This helps doctors find problems in your bones.
A three-phase bone scan, also known as bone scintigraphy, is a nuclear medicine procedure involving intravenous injection of a radionuclide tracer.Imaging is performed in three phases: vascular flow (immediately after injection), blood pool (approximately 20 minutes post-injection), and delayed images (approximately 3 hours post-injection) to assess bone perfusion, blood supply, and overall skeletal uptake of the tracer.This helps diagnose various bone conditions such as fractures, osteomyelitis, and metastatic bone disease.
Example 1: A patient presents with persistent localized bone pain and swelling in the left leg following a recent fall. A three-phase bone scan (78315) is ordered to assess for a possible fracture or osteomyelitis., A patient with a history of prostate cancer undergoes a three-phase bone scan (78315) to detect potential bone metastases and guide treatment planning., A patient with unexplained bone pain is evaluated with a three-phase bone scan (78315) to differentiate between various etiologies such as Paget's disease, stress fractures, or other bone conditions.
* Physician's order specifying the indication for the study.* Patient's medical history and relevant physical examination findings.* Detailed imaging report including description of the three phases (flow, blood pool, delayed), location, size and characteristics of any abnormalities.* Correlation with other clinical data such as blood tests and/or X-rays.
** The radiopharmaceutical used for the scan is not included in this code; it should be reported separately using the appropriate HCPCS or other supply code, if necessary.Always refer to the most current CPT manual for accurate coding.
- Revenue Code: I1E (STANDARD IMAGING - NUCLEAR MEDICINE)
- RVU: This information requires access to a specific payer's fee schedule and is not included in the provided source.
- Global Days: The global period for this code is not specified in the source.Further information would be needed from payer guidelines or other resources.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC is applicable when the provider performs only the technical component of the service (e.g., image acquisition).Modifier 26 is applicable when the provider performs only the professional component (e.g., interpretation).
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule data is not available in the provided source; this data is payer-specific and varies over time.
- Specialties:Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Oncology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Nuclear Medicine Clinic