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Quantitative differential pulmonary perfusion is a specialized nuclear imaging procedure designed to assess lung function by evaluating the circulation of blood within the lung tissue. This procedure is essential for understanding two critical components of lung function: ventilation and perfusion. Ventilation pertains to the ability of air to reach all areas of the lungs, while perfusion refers to the blood flow through the lung structures. In this context, nuclear imaging studies utilize radioactive tracers to visualize and measure these functions effectively. The procedure involves the administration of a radioactive tracer, such as technetium macro aggregated albumin (Tc99m-MAA), which is injected into the bloodstream via an intravenous catheter. As the tracer circulates, it highlights areas of the lungs and other body regions, allowing for a detailed comparison of blood flow and tracer accumulation. The quantitative aspect of this study involves measuring the amount of tracer in various lung regions, providing valuable insights into pulmonary health. Throughout the procedure, the patient is closely monitored, and the physician analyzes the obtained images to generate a comprehensive report that includes critical measurements and comparisons of radionuclide distributions, aiding in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary conditions.
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Quantitative differential pulmonary perfusion studies are indicated for various clinical scenarios where assessment of lung function is necessary. These indications may include:
The procedure for quantitative differential pulmonary perfusion involves several key steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of lung function. The steps are as follows:
After the quantitative differential pulmonary perfusion study, patients are typically monitored for a short period to ensure there are no immediate adverse effects from the radioactive tracer. Patients may be advised to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer from their system. The physician will review the images and provide a comprehensive report, which may include recommendations for further evaluation or treatment based on the findings. Patients can usually resume normal activities shortly after the procedure, but specific instructions may be given based on individual circumstances and the physician's assessment.
| Short Descr | LUNG PERFUSION DIFFERENTIAL | Medium Descr | QUANT DIFFERENTIAL PULM PERFUSION W/WO IMAGING | Long Descr | Quantitative differential pulmonary perfusion, including imaging 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) | 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. | 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 | 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 | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 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. | 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 | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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 | 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 | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
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| 2012-01-01 | Added | Added |
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