© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Brain imaging, specifically CPT® Code 78606, involves the acquisition of a minimum of four static views of the brain, which may include vascular flow imaging. This procedure utilizes scintigraphy, a technique that employs a radiolabeled isotope tracer to visualize the brain's structure and function. The primary purpose of this imaging is to document brain death, a critical determination in clinical settings. During the procedure, the patient is carefully positioned on an imaging table, and a gamma camera is aligned to capture images of the entire head and neck region. An intravenous line is established to facilitate the injection of the radiolabeled isotope tracer directly into the patient's circulatory system. When vascular flow imaging is part of the study, the imaging process commences as soon as the isotope bolus reaches the neck and continues through the venous phase, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of blood flow to the brain. A radiation detector, typically a scintillation detector, is employed to record the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical within the brain. The imaging captures views from various angles, including anterior, right lateral, left lateral, and posterior positions, with the possibility of additional views as deemed necessary. For static imaging, the camera captures images at a single point in time, typically for about five minutes per view position. This allows for zoning and magnification of specific areas of interest, enhancing the diagnostic capability of the procedure. Following the imaging, the physician interprets the results and generates a written report detailing the findings, which is essential for clinical decision-making.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure consists of several key steps that ensure accurate imaging of the brain.
Post-procedure care typically involves monitoring the patient for any immediate reactions to the radiolabeled isotope tracer. The physician will review the imaging results and provide a detailed report, which may include recommendations for further evaluation or treatment based on the findings. Patients may be advised to hydrate adequately following the procedure to assist in the elimination of the tracer from their system. Additionally, any specific follow-up appointments or additional imaging studies may be scheduled based on the results of the brain imaging.
| Short Descr | BRAIN IMAGE W/FLOW 4 + VIEWS | Medium Descr | BRAIN IMAGING MIN 4 STATIC VIEWS W VASCULAR FLOW | Long Descr | Brain imaging, minimum 4 static views; with vascular flow | 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 | 209 - Radioisotope scan and function studies |
| 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. | 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. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | MA | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to service being rendered to a patient with a suspected or confirmed emergency medical 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 | 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 | 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 | 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
|
|---|---|---|
| 2008-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.