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A gastric emptying imaging study with small bowel transit, identified by CPT® Code 78265, is a diagnostic procedure that evaluates the motility of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically focusing on the stomach and small intestine. This noninvasive study utilizes scintigraphy, a technique that involves the use of a radiolabeled isotope tracer to visualize the movement of ingested materials through the digestive system. The procedure is designed to assess how quickly food moves from the stomach into the small intestine, which is crucial for diagnosing various gastrointestinal disorders. Conditions such as gastroparesis, characterized by delayed gastric emptying, and other symptoms like dyspepsia, abdominal pain, bloating, chronic diarrhea, constipation, idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, scleroderma, celiac disease, and malabsorption syndrome may warrant this type of imaging study. During the procedure, the patient consumes a meal that contains the isotope tracer, allowing for real-time imaging of the digestive process. For patients unable to ingest food orally, such as infants or those with feeding difficulties, the tracer can be administered through a nasal feeding tube or gastrostomy tube. The imaging is conducted with a gamma camera positioned over the abdomen, capturing the radioactive energy emitted from the tracer as it moves through the GI tract. The results of the study are interpreted by a physician, who then provides a comprehensive written report detailing the findings.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The gastric emptying imaging study with small bowel transit (CPT® Code 78265) is indicated for the evaluation of various gastrointestinal conditions. The following are the explicitly provided indications for this procedure:
The gastric emptying imaging study with small bowel transit involves several key procedural steps that ensure accurate assessment of gastrointestinal motility. The following outlines the detailed steps of the procedure:
After the gastric emptying imaging study with small bowel transit is completed, the patient may resume normal activities unless otherwise instructed by the healthcare provider. There are typically no specific post-procedure care requirements, as the study is noninvasive and does not involve any significant recovery time. The physician will review the results and discuss the findings with the patient, which may lead to further diagnostic testing or treatment options based on the outcomes of the study.
| Short Descr | GASTRIC EMPTYING IMAG STUDY | Medium Descr | GASTRIC EMPTYNG IMAG STD W/SM BWL TRANSIT | Long Descr | Gastric emptying imaging study (eg, solid, liquid, or both); with small bowel transit | 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. | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I4B - Imaging/procedure - other | MUE | 1 |
| 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. | ME | The order for this service adheres to appropriate use criteria in the clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing 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). | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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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| 2016-01-01 | Added | Added |