© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), perfusion study is a sophisticated non-invasive imaging technique designed to evaluate the heart's muscle perfusion and blood flow. This procedure utilizes radioactive tracers, known as nucleotides, which are injected into the patient's bloodstream. These tracers enable the creation of detailed three-dimensional images that illustrate how blood flows through the heart during various states of activity, such as at rest or under stress. The PET myocardial perfusion imagery (PET-MPI) not only assesses blood flow but also facilitates a wall motion study, which measures the pumping efficiency of the left ventricle and calculates the ejection fraction, or the volume of blood pumped out with each heartbeat. In cases of coronary artery disease or damage to the heart muscle, the perfusion of cardiac muscle may be compromised, leading to impaired function. The PET-MPI procedure is conducted in a specialized environment equipped with a gamma ray detecting scanner that integrates both PET and computed tomography (CT) capabilities into a single unit. During the procedure, the patient is positioned on a movable table, and an intravenous (IV) line is established for tracer administration. Electrocardiogram (EKG) leads are attached to monitor the heart's electrical activity, ensuring synchronization with the imaging process. The imaging process begins with the acquisition of CT data, followed by the injection of the radioactive tracer, after which the table moves through the scanner again to capture PET-MPI data. The uptake of the tracer varies in different tissues based on blood flow, allowing for the identification of narrowed coronary vessels, damaged tissue, and scar tissue, which manifest as distinct patterns and colors on the resulting images. The combination of PET and CT data enhances the accuracy of localizing areas of damage or disease by correcting for soft tissue attenuation using a CT map. Additionally, performing the PET-MPI/CT scan during stress—either through physical exercise or pharmacological stimulation—can yield further insights into cardiac function and perfusion dynamics.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), perfusion study is indicated for the evaluation of various cardiac conditions. The following are the explicitly provided indications for this procedure:
The procedure for a myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), perfusion study involves several detailed steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of cardiac function. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the completion of the myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), perfusion study, the patient may be monitored briefly to ensure there are no immediate adverse reactions to the radioactive tracer or the stress testing. The results of the imaging will be analyzed to assess cardiac perfusion, wall motion, and ejection fraction. Patients are typically advised to resume normal activities unless otherwise instructed by their healthcare provider. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to discuss the findings and any necessary further evaluations or treatments based on the results of the study.
| Short Descr | MYOCRD IMG PET RST/STRS W/CT | Medium Descr | MYOCRD IMG PET PRFUJ 1STD REST/STRESS CNCRNT CT | Long Descr | Myocardial imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), perfusion study (including ventricular wall motion[s] and/or ejection fraction[s], when performed); single study, at rest or stress (exercise or pharmacologic), with concurrently acquired computed tomography transmission scan | Status Code | Carriers Price the 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) | none | 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. | 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 | ME | The order for this service adheres to 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). | 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. | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | 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 | MD | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of extreme and uncontrollable circumstances | 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 | 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 |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-01 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.