2025 CPT code 78606
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Radiology - Nuclear Medicine Feed
Brain imaging, minimum 4 static views; with vascular flow
Modifiers 26 (Professional Component) and TC (Technical Component) may be applicable depending on who performs the service.
Medical necessity must be established by documenting the patient's clinical condition and the rationale for performing the brain imaging study with vascular flow.
The physician is responsible for administering the radiopharmaceutical, acquiring the images, interpreting the results, and correlating them with the patient's clinical condition to make a diagnosis.
In simple words: This procedure uses a special type of scan to take pictures of the brain and see how well it's working.A safe radioactive material is used to highlight the active areas and blood flow in the brain, helping doctors understand its function.
This procedure involves nuclear diagnostic imaging of the brain using a radiopharmaceutical substance to examine brain function. It includes four or more static (planar, two-dimensional) views and a vascular flow study to evaluate blood flow to the brain.
Example 1: A patient with suspected dementia undergoes brain imaging with vascular flow to assess cerebral perfusion and identify areas of reduced blood flow., A patient with a history of stroke has this procedure to evaluate the extent of damage and monitor recovery., A patient with seizures undergoes this study to pinpoint the location of the seizure focus in the brain.
Documentation should include the medical necessity for the procedure, the radiopharmaceutical used, the number and type of views obtained, the results of the vascular flow study, and the physician's interpretation of the findings.
- Modifier TC rule: Modifier TC is applicable when only the technical component is being reported.
- Specialties:Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Neurology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic, Mobile Unit