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