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Thoracic aortography, as described by CPT® Code 75600, is a specialized vascular imaging procedure aimed at evaluating the thoracic aorta's structural integrity and assessing blood flow within this major artery. The procedure involves the insertion of a large bore needle into a peripheral blood vessel, typically located in the arm or groin. Through this needle, a guidewire is carefully introduced, allowing for the advancement of a catheter into the thoracic aorta under the guidance of real-time X-ray imaging. Once the catheter is properly positioned, a contrast dye is injected into the aorta, enabling visualization of the vessel and its blood flow dynamics. This imaging technique is crucial for diagnosing various cardiovascular conditions, as it provides detailed insights into the aorta's condition. Unlike CPT® Code 75605, which includes serialography for obtaining a series of images, Code 75600 focuses solely on the aortography aspect without this additional imaging component. The procedure is conducted under the supervision of a radiologist, who is responsible for overseeing the entire process, interpreting the results, and generating a comprehensive written report. This report may also include consultations with referring physicians regarding the findings and any recommendations for further diagnostic tests or interventions, if necessary.
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The indications for performing thoracic aortography (CPT® Code 75600) typically include the following conditions and symptoms:
The thoracic aortography procedure involves several key steps that ensure accurate imaging of the thoracic aorta:
After the thoracic aortography procedure, patients are typically monitored for a short period to ensure there are no immediate complications, such as bleeding or adverse reactions to the contrast dye. The site of needle insertion is assessed for any signs of hematoma or infection. Patients may be advised to rest and avoid strenuous activities for a specified duration. The radiologist will prepare a detailed report of the findings, which will be shared with the referring physician to discuss the results and any necessary follow-up actions or additional tests that may be required based on the findings of the aortography.
| Short Descr | CONTRAST EXAM THORACIC AORTA | Medium Descr | AORTOGRAPHY THORACIC W/O SERIALOGRAPHY RS&I | Long Descr | Aortography, thoracic, without serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 6 - Special payment adjustment rules on the technical component (TC) of multiple diagnostic cardiovascular services apply... | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | T-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I4B - Imaging/procedure - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 189 - Contrast aortogram |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 37252 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Intravascular ultrasound (noncoronary vessel) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including radiological supervision and interpretation; initial noncoronary vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 37253 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Intravascular ultrasound (noncoronary vessel) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including radiological supervision and interpretation; each additional noncoronary vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Short Descriptor changed. Guideline information changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Guideline information changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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