Radiology Question for the Week of August 12, 2019

Question:

The code description for A9541 is technetium Tc-99m sulfur colloid, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 20 millicuries. According to the technician, when we do a lung ventilation and perfusion scan we use 50 mCi. Is it correct to code A9541 x 3?

Answer:

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) recommends that you code x 1 even though you are using more because the main thing is that it is “per study dose.” If your protocol uses a higher study dose than the code description, it should not be reported extra.

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