© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Pulmonary ventilation imaging, as described by CPT® Code 78579, is a specialized nuclear imaging study aimed at assessing lung function, specifically focusing on the ventilation aspect. Ventilation is defined as the process by which air is distributed throughout the various regions of the lungs, ensuring that all areas receive adequate airflow. This procedure is essential for evaluating how well air reaches the lung tissues, which is critical for diagnosing various pulmonary conditions. The imaging process utilizes radioactive tracers, which are substances that emit radiation and can be detected by imaging equipment, to visualize lung structures and the airflow within them. In this procedure, a gaseous radionuclide, such as xenon or technetium DTPA, is inhaled by the patient through a mouthpiece or mask. The patient is instructed to take a deep breath and hold it, allowing for the capture of scintigraphic images that reflect the distribution of the inhaled aerosol within the lungs. Throughout the imaging process, the patient is closely monitored to ensure safety and comfort. After the procedure, the physician analyzes the obtained images and compiles a written report detailing the findings, which can be crucial for further clinical decision-making and management of lung-related health issues.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The pulmonary ventilation imaging procedure (CPT® Code 78579) is indicated for the evaluation of various lung conditions and to assess lung function. The following are specific indications for performing this imaging study:
The procedure for pulmonary ventilation imaging (CPT® Code 78579) involves several key steps that ensure accurate assessment of lung ventilation. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the pulmonary ventilation imaging procedure (CPT® Code 78579), the patient may be advised to resume normal activities unless otherwise instructed by the physician. There are typically no specific post-procedure care requirements, as the radioactive material used is generally considered safe and is eliminated from the body within a short period. The physician will discuss the results of the imaging study with the patient during a follow-up appointment, where further management or treatment options may be considered based on the findings. It is important for the patient to report any unusual symptoms or concerns following the procedure to their healthcare provider.
| Short Descr | LUNG VENTILATION IMAGING | Medium Descr | PULMONARY VENTILATION IMAGING | Long Descr | Pulmonary ventilation imaging (eg, aerosol or gas) | 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) | I4B - Imaging/procedure - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 208 - Radioisotope pulmonary 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 | 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). | 53 | Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) 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). | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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 | 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 | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 | Added | Added |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.