ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group B020 includes procedures performed to capture and computer-reformat multiplanar digital images of the brain. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when computerized tomography of the central nervous system is performed to evaluate brain structure or pathology. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS B020 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Brain Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes computerized tomography procedures that generate computer reformatted multiplanar digital images of the brain from multiple exposures of external ionizing radiation. These procedures target the central nervous system and produce cross-sectional and multiplanar views to support diagnosis and treatment planning. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding reflects the specific CT imaging performed on the brain and is important for inpatient reimbursement and clinical documentation integrity.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
0	Body System	Central Nervous System
2	Operation	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
0	Body Part	Brain

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Brain Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
0	Body System	Central Nervous System
2	Operation	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
0	Body Part	Brain

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient undergoes computerized tomography of the brain with computer reformatted multiplanar digital images created from multiple external ionizing radiation exposures. Codes in this group apply when the imaging is performed in the inpatient setting and documented in the medical record.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

7 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
B02000Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using High Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B0200ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using High Osmolar Contrast
B02010Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Low Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B0201ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Low Osmolar Contrast
B020Y0Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B020YZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Other Contrast
B020ZZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 68-year-old male is admitted through the emergency department with sudden-onset severe headache, transient loss of consciousness, and focal neurological deficits concerning for intracranial hemorrhage or large ischemic stroke. An urgent CT scan of the brain with and without contrast is performed to rapidly evaluate for hemorrhage, mass effect, or vascular lesions; the study requires computer-reformatted multiplanar images to aid neurosurgical decision-making. The imaging captures multiple exposures of external ionizing radiation and includes both unenhanced and enhanced phases. Typical codes: B02000Z
A 45-year-old female with a history of metastatic melanoma is admitted for inpatient staging and radiologic assessment of new persistent headaches and cognitive changes. To delineate intracranial metastases and plan possible stereotactic radiation, a contrast-enhanced CT of the brain is obtained using a low osmolar iodinated contrast agent with both pre-contrast and post-contrast series and computer-reformatted multiplanar reconstructions. The multiplanar images assist in lesion localization and treatment planning. Typical codes: B02010Z
A 57-year-old patient who underwent recent craniotomy for tumor resection develops new focal deficits and concern for postoperative abscess versus hemorrhage while still inpatient. A repeat CT of the brain is ordered to compare with prior studies; because comparison requires enhanced and unenhanced imaging to assess for contrast-enhancing collections and to evaluate postoperative changes, a CT with other (nonstandard) contrast agents documented as used in both unenhanced and enhanced phases is performed with multiplanar reformats. Typical codes: B020Y0Z

Related Codes

B027-CISTERNA-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cisterna: Procedure Code Group Overview

B028-CEREBRAL-VENTRICLE-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cerebral Ventricle: Procedure Code Group Overview

B029-SELLA-TURCICA-REFORMAT-SELLA-TURCICA-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Sella Turcica/Pituitary Gland: Procedure Code Group Overview

B02B-SPINAL-CORD-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Spinal Cord: Procedure Code Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

7 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
B02000Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using High Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B0200ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using High Osmolar Contrast
B02010Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Low Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B0201ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Low Osmolar Contrast
B020Y0Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
B020YZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain using Other Contrast
B020ZZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Brain

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 68-year-old male is admitted through the emergency department with sudden-onset severe headache, transient loss of consciousness, and focal neurological deficits concerning for intracranial hemorrhage or large ischemic stroke. An urgent CT scan of the brain with and without contrast is performed to rapidly evaluate for hemorrhage, mass effect, or vascular lesions; the study requires computer-reformatted multiplanar images to aid neurosurgical decision-making. The imaging captures multiple exposures of external ionizing radiation and includes both unenhanced and enhanced phases. Typical codes: B02000Z
A 45-year-old female with a history of metastatic melanoma is admitted for inpatient staging and radiologic assessment of new persistent headaches and cognitive changes. To delineate intracranial metastases and plan possible stereotactic radiation, a contrast-enhanced CT of the brain is obtained using a low osmolar iodinated contrast agent with both pre-contrast and post-contrast series and computer-reformatted multiplanar reconstructions. The multiplanar images assist in lesion localization and treatment planning. Typical codes: B02010Z
A 57-year-old patient who underwent recent craniotomy for tumor resection develops new focal deficits and concern for postoperative abscess versus hemorrhage while still inpatient. A repeat CT of the brain is ordered to compare with prior studies; because comparison requires enhanced and unenhanced imaging to assess for contrast-enhancing collections and to evaluate postoperative changes, a CT with other (nonstandard) contrast agents documented as used in both unenhanced and enhanced phases is performed with multiplanar reformats. Typical codes: B020Y0Z

Related Codes

B027-CISTERNA-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cisterna: Procedure Code Group Overview

B028-CEREBRAL-VENTRICLE-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cerebral Ventricle: Procedure Code Group Overview

B029-SELLA-TURCICA-REFORMAT-SELLA-TURCICA-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Sella Turcica/Pituitary Gland: Procedure Code Group Overview

B02B-SPINAL-CORD-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Spinal Cord: Procedure Code Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Brain Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Brain Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS B020 code group?

What body system and operation are represented by the B020 code group?

How does accurate coding within B020 affect inpatient documentation and reimbursement?

What contrast options are reflected in the individual B020 codes?

Are there any related DRGs listed for the B020 code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS B020 code group?

What body system and operation are represented by the B020 code group?

How does accurate coding within B020 affect inpatient documentation and reimbursement?

What contrast options are reflected in the individual B020 codes?

Are there any related DRGs listed for the B020 code group?

References