© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Parathyroid planar imaging is a diagnostic imaging procedure that involves the use of a radiopharmaceutical, specifically technetium-99m (TC-99) sestamibi, which is administered intravenously. This imaging technique is primarily utilized to assess the parathyroid glands, which are small endocrine glands located near the thyroid gland that play a crucial role in regulating calcium levels in the body. The procedure begins with the initial acquisition of planar images shortly after the radiopharmaceutical is injected. These images are critical for evaluating any increased uptake of the radiotracer in the parathyroid tissue compared to the surrounding thyroid tissue, which can indicate the presence of parathyroid disease. Following the initial imaging, additional images are captured approximately two hours later to assess the retention of the radiotracer in the parathyroid glands. In cases where subtraction studies are indicated, a second radiopharmaceutical that is selectively taken up by the thyroid gland, such as iodine-123 (I-123) or technetium-99m pertechnetate, is administered. This allows for the generation of subtraction images that can enhance the visualization of the parathyroid glands by eliminating the background signal from the thyroid. Recent advancements in parathyroid planar imaging have integrated the use of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with concurrent computed tomography (CT) imaging. This combination improves the sensitivity of the procedure by providing both functional and anatomical information, thereby enhancing the accuracy of diagnosing parathyroid conditions. For coding purposes, CPT® Code 78070 is designated for parathyroid planar imaging performed alone, while codes 78071 and 78072 are used when this imaging is combined with SPECT studies or with both SPECT and CT imaging, respectively.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
Parathyroid planar imaging is indicated for the evaluation of various conditions related to the parathyroid glands. The following are the specific indications for this procedure:
The procedure for parathyroid planar imaging involves several key steps that ensure accurate imaging of the parathyroid glands:
After the completion of parathyroid planar imaging, there are generally no specific post-procedure care requirements, as the procedure is non-invasive and does not typically involve any recovery time. Patients may resume their normal activities immediately following the imaging. However, it is important for healthcare providers to monitor patients for any potential allergic reactions to the radiopharmaceutical used. Additionally, patients should be informed about the importance of hydration post-procedure to help flush the radiotracer from their system. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to discuss the results of the imaging and any further diagnostic or therapeutic steps that may be necessary based on the findings.
| Short Descr | PARATHYROID PLANAR IMAGING | Medium Descr | PARATHYROID PLANAR IMAGING | Long Descr | Parathyroid planar imaging (including subtraction, 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. | 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 | 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 | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing 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 | 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 | 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. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | MB | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of insufficient internet access | MC | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of electronic health record or clinical decision support mechanism vendor issues | ME | The order for this service adheres to appropriate use criteria in the clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | 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 | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
| 1984-12-31 | Deleted | Code deleted. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.