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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group BH42 includes procedures performed to image anatomy and flow information in the bilateral breasts using ultrasonography. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when real-time sonographic imaging of both breasts is performed for diagnostic evaluation or procedural guidance. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS BH42 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

Customize your policy alerts

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

Get alerted when relevant policies change without checking for updates manually.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Breasts Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

The procedures in this group involve real-time display of images produced by high-frequency sound waves directed at the bilateral breasts and breast tissue. These procedures target the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and breast body system to visualize anatomy and flow information for diagnosis or guidance. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding for these ultrasonography procedures ensures inpatient records reflect the imaging performed and supports appropriate reimbursement and case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
H	Body System	Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
4	Operation	Ultrasonography
2	Body Part	Breasts, Bilateral

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

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

Customize your policy alerts

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

Get alerted when relevant policies change without checking for updates manually.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Breasts Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
H	Body System	Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
4	Operation	Ultrasonography
2	Body Part	Breasts, Bilateral

When to Use

Use a code from this group when real-time ultrasonographic imaging of both breasts is performed during an inpatient encounter for diagnostic assessment or to guide a procedure. These codes apply when the imaging specifically documents bilateral breast anatomy or blood-flow information using ultrasound technology.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BH42ZZZ	Ultrasonography of Bilateral Breasts

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged woman admitted through the emergency department with a rapidly enlarging, painful palpable mass in both breasts and concern for bilateral abscesses or infectious mastitis; inpatient evaluation includes bedside real-time ultrasound of both breasts to assess fluid collections, guide aspiration if needed, and evaluate for bilateral ductal abnormalities. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ
A patient scheduled for inpatient diagnostic workup after abnormal bilateral screening mammograms showing suspicious asymmetric densities; during the hospital stay, high-resolution ultrasonography of both breasts is performed to characterize lesions, evaluate vascular flow, and inform the need for biopsy or further intervention. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ
A hospitalized oncology patient undergoing preoperative assessment before bilateral partial mastectomy for synchronous tumors; intra-hospital breast ultrasound of both breasts is obtained to map lesion extent, assess multifocal disease, and assist surgical planning. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ

Related Codes

BH40-BREAST-ULTRASONOGRAPHY-RIGHT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Breast Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH41-LEFT-BREAST-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Breast: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH47-UPPER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH48-LOWER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH49-ABDOMINAL-WALL-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdominal Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH4B-CHEST-WALL-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH4C-HEAD-AND-NECK-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: 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.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BH42ZZZ	Ultrasonography of Bilateral Breasts

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged woman admitted through the emergency department with a rapidly enlarging, painful palpable mass in both breasts and concern for bilateral abscesses or infectious mastitis; inpatient evaluation includes bedside real-time ultrasound of both breasts to assess fluid collections, guide aspiration if needed, and evaluate for bilateral ductal abnormalities. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ
A patient scheduled for inpatient diagnostic workup after abnormal bilateral screening mammograms showing suspicious asymmetric densities; during the hospital stay, high-resolution ultrasonography of both breasts is performed to characterize lesions, evaluate vascular flow, and inform the need for biopsy or further intervention. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ
A hospitalized oncology patient undergoing preoperative assessment before bilateral partial mastectomy for synchronous tumors; intra-hospital breast ultrasound of both breasts is obtained to map lesion extent, assess multifocal disease, and assist surgical planning. Typical codes: BH42ZZZ

Related Codes

BH40-BREAST-ULTRASONOGRAPHY-RIGHT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Breast Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH41-LEFT-BREAST-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Breast: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH47-UPPER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH48-LOWER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH49-ABDOMINAL-WALL-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdominal Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH4B-CHEST-WALL-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

BH4C-HEAD-AND-NECK-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: 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 Breasts: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Breasts Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Breasts Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group BH42?

What is the specific ICD-10-PCS code listed for bilateral breast ultrasonography?

In which ICD-10-PCS section and body system is `BH42ZZZ` classified?

Why is accurate coding of `BH42ZZZ` important for inpatient records?

For what clinical purposes are the procedures in BH42 typically performed?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group BH42?

What is the specific ICD-10-PCS code listed for bilateral breast ultrasonography?

In which ICD-10-PCS section and body system is `BH42ZZZ` classified?

Why is accurate coding of `BH42ZZZ` important for inpatient records?

For what clinical purposes are the procedures in BH42 typically performed?

References