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Thyroid imaging, commonly known as a thyroid scan, is a specialized nuclear medicine procedure designed to assess the anatomical and functional characteristics of the thyroid gland. This imaging technique involves the administration of radioactive iodine isotopes, which can be given either orally in liquid or capsule form or intravenously. The choice of administration route influences the timing of the imaging; if the radioactive tracer is taken orally, the imaging is typically conducted several hours to 24 hours later, allowing sufficient time for the tracer to be absorbed by the thyroid. Conversely, if administered intravenously, imaging occurs approximately 30 minutes post-injection. During the procedure, the patient is positioned supine on an examination table with their head tilted back to facilitate optimal imaging of the thyroid gland. A gamma camera is utilized to capture a series of images, which may also include the vascular flow of the thyroid if indicated. Following the imaging, a physician reviews the obtained images and generates a written report detailing the findings. Thyroid imaging can be performed independently or in conjunction with thyroid uptake studies, which evaluate the functional capacity of the thyroid gland by measuring its iodine absorption. The results from these imaging studies are crucial for diagnosing various thyroid conditions and guiding subsequent treatment decisions.
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The indications for performing thyroid imaging include the following:
The procedure for thyroid imaging involves several key steps, which are detailed below:
Post-procedure care for thyroid imaging typically involves minimal requirements, as the procedure is non-invasive and does not usually necessitate extensive recovery time. Patients may be advised to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radioactive material from their system. It is important for patients to follow any specific instructions provided by their healthcare provider regarding follow-up appointments or additional testing, especially if thyroid uptake studies are to be performed subsequently. The physician will discuss the findings from the imaging study during a follow-up consultation, where further management or treatment options may be considered based on the results.
| Short Descr | THYROID IMAGING W/BLOOD FLOW | Medium Descr | THYROID IMAGING WITH VASCULAR FLOW | Long Descr | Thyroid imaging (including vascular flow, when performed); | 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) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures 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 | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | ASC Payment Indicator | Radiology service paid separately when provided integral to a surgical procedure on ASC list; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I1E - Standard imaging - nuclear medicine | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 209 - Radioisotope scan and function studies |
| 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. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 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. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | ME | The order for this service adheres to appropriate use criteria in the clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | MF | The order for this service does not adhere to the appropriate use criteria in the clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | MG | The order for this service does not have applicable appropriate use criteria in the qualified clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | MH | Unknown if ordering professional consulted a clinical decision support mechanism for this service, related information was not provided to the furnishing professional or provider | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician |
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| 2013-01-01 | Added | Added |
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