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Bone marrow imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that allows healthcare professionals to visualize the functional activity of the bone marrow. This imaging technique is essential for diagnosing and staging various bone marrow disorders and infections, as well as identifying metastases from other cancers. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in evaluating the success of bone marrow transplants. Throughout a person's life, distinct changes occur in the bone marrow; at birth, the marrow is predominantly composed of hematopoietic cells, which gradually transition to adipose tissue as the individual ages. Bone marrow imaging can help assess discrepancies between the histological findings of the bone marrow and the clinical presentation of diseases, and it is also useful for monitoring the effects of radiotherapy. Furthermore, this imaging technique can detect extramedullary hematopoiesis and assist in locating the optimal site for bone marrow biopsy. The procedure typically involves drawing a blood sample, processing it to separate white blood cells (WBCs) from red blood cells (RBCs), and tagging the WBCs with a radionuclide-labeled tracer. This tracer is then injected back into the patient intravenously, and other isotopes may also be administered. Following this, imaging techniques such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and/or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning are performed at specific intervals to evaluate various conditions, including infections, metastases, bone marrow viability, aplastic anemia, and myelofibrosis. The tracers used in conjunction with SPECT and/or PET scanning can provide valuable information regarding cellular metabolism and proliferation activity within the bone marrow. Ultimately, the physician interprets the resulting Emission Computed Tomography (ECT), SPECT, CT, or PET scan images and generates a comprehensive written report detailing the findings. CPT® Code 78102 specifically pertains to bone marrow imaging of a limited area, while Code 78103 is designated for imaging multiple areas, and Code 78104 is utilized for whole-body bone marrow imaging.
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The indications for performing bone marrow imaging include the following:
The procedure for bone marrow imaging involves several key steps, which are detailed as follows:
Post-procedure care for patients undergoing bone marrow imaging typically involves monitoring for any immediate reactions to the radionuclide injection. Patients may be advised to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radionuclide from their system. There are generally no significant restrictions following the procedure, and patients can resume normal activities unless otherwise directed by their healthcare provider. 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 | BONE MARROW IMAGING LTD | Medium Descr | BONE MARROW IMAGING LIMITED AREA | Long Descr | Bone marrow imaging; limited area | 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 | 207 - Radioisotope bone scan |
| 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 | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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 | 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. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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 | 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 | 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 |
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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |