General Guidelines for Ordering Computed Tomography 1

Without IV Contrast With IV Contrast With and Without IV Contrast
Head (Procedure code 70450)
  • Trauma

  • Bleed

(Procedure code 70460)
  • Soft-tissue mass

  • Known brain lesion

  • Metastases

Sinus/Face (Procedure code 70486)
  • Trauma

  • Fracture

  • Sinusitis

(Procedure code 70487)
  • Soft-tissue mass

Temporal Bones/Orbits (Procedure code 70480)
  • Hearing loss

  • Orbit fracture

  • Mastoiditis

  • Cholesteatoma

(Procedure code 70481)
  • Soft-tissue mass

Neck (Procedure code 70490)
  • Stones

(Procedure code 70491)
  • Mass

  • Difficulty swallowing

(Procedure code 70492)
Spine Cervical (Procedure code 72125)
  • Stenosis

  • Pain

  • Fracture

Thoracic (Procedure code 72128)
  • Stenosis

  • Pain

  • Fracture

Lumbar (Procedure code 72131)
  • Stenosis

  • Pain

  • Fracture

  • Infection

Cervical (Procedure code 72126) Thoracic (Procedure code 72129) Lumbar (Procedure code 72132)
Extremities Upper (Procedure code 73200)
  • Fracture

  • Evaluation joint

  • Hip fracture

Lower (Procedure code 73700)
  • Fracture

  • Evaluation joint

  • Hip fracture

Upper (Procedure code 73201)
  • Soft-tissue mass

  • Osteomyelitis/infection

Lower (Procedure code 73701)
  • Soft-tissue mass

  • Osteomyelitis/infection

Upper (Procedure code 73202) Upper (Procedure code 73702)
Chest (Procedure code 71250)
  • Nodule

  • Abnormal chest x-ray

  • Interstitial lung disease (high resolution)

  • Cough

(Procedure code 71260)
  • Lymph nodes (adenopathy)

  • Hilar mass

(Procedure code 71270)
Abdomen and Pelvis (Procedure code 74176)
  • Kidney stones

  • Evaluation for aortic aneurysm

(Procedure code 74177)
  • Generalized abdominal pain (diverticulitis, appendicitis, pancreatitis)

  • Cancer staging

  • Crohn’s (enterography)

(Procedure code 74178)
  • Urogram for hematuria

Abdomen (Procedure code 74170)
  • 3-phase examinations (liver, pancreas mass)

  • Kidney mass

Bony pelvis (Procedure code 72192)
  • Pelvic fracture

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Feb 19, 2020 | Posted by in GENERAL RADIOLOGY | Comments Off on General Guidelines for Ordering Computed Tomography 1

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