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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group BH48 includes procedures performed to image soft tissues and vascular flow in the lower extremity. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when real-time ultrasonography of the lower limb soft tissues or vascular structures is performed to evaluate anatomy or flow. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS BH48 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 Lower Extremity: 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.

Lower Extremity Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes real-time ultrasonography imaging of the lower extremity and targets the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and breast body system as defined in the code attributes. Procedures involve capture and display of reflected high-frequency sound waves to visualize anatomy and flow information in the lower limb. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding is important for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the imaging performed and supports appropriate case mix and payment.

Code Attributes

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

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

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

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Extremity: 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.

Lower Extremity 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
8	Body Part	Extremity, Lower

When to Use

Use a code from this group when real-time ultrasonography is performed on the lower limb to evaluate soft tissue structures or blood flow. Select the specific ICD-10-PCS code that reflects the imaging procedure and body part per inpatient documentation and coding guidelines.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BH48ZZZ	Ultrasonography of Lower Extremity

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient is admitted from the emergency department with acute unilateral calf swelling, pain, and increased warmth after recent long-distance travel. Concern for deep venous thrombosis prompts inpatient bedside real-time ultrasonography of the lower extremity soft tissues and venous flow to evaluate compressibility and Doppler flow in the calf veins. The exam is performed to confirm or exclude venous thrombosis and guide anticoagulation decisions during the admission. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ
An inpatient with a history of chronic venous insufficiency and a nonhealing lower leg ulcer is scheduled for a diagnostic vascular assessment. Real-time ultrasonography of the lower extremity is performed to assess superficial and deep venous anatomy and flow, evaluate for venous reflux or obstruction, and inform the wound care and vascular consultation plan. The study supports inpatient management and potential coordination of procedures after discharge. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ
A postoperative patient develops localized erythema, fluctuance, and pain at the calf incision site after lower extremity surgery, raising concern for an abscess or hematoma. Point-of-care ultrasonography of the lower extremity soft tissues is performed to visualize the collection, differentiate fluid from solid tissue, and assess surrounding vascular flow before any bedside drainage or further intervention. The imaging guides immediate management of this complication during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ

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

BH42-BREASTS-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

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

BH47-UPPER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper 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
BH48ZZZ	Ultrasonography of Lower Extremity

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient is admitted from the emergency department with acute unilateral calf swelling, pain, and increased warmth after recent long-distance travel. Concern for deep venous thrombosis prompts inpatient bedside real-time ultrasonography of the lower extremity soft tissues and venous flow to evaluate compressibility and Doppler flow in the calf veins. The exam is performed to confirm or exclude venous thrombosis and guide anticoagulation decisions during the admission. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ
An inpatient with a history of chronic venous insufficiency and a nonhealing lower leg ulcer is scheduled for a diagnostic vascular assessment. Real-time ultrasonography of the lower extremity is performed to assess superficial and deep venous anatomy and flow, evaluate for venous reflux or obstruction, and inform the wound care and vascular consultation plan. The study supports inpatient management and potential coordination of procedures after discharge. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ
A postoperative patient develops localized erythema, fluctuance, and pain at the calf incision site after lower extremity surgery, raising concern for an abscess or hematoma. Point-of-care ultrasonography of the lower extremity soft tissues is performed to visualize the collection, differentiate fluid from solid tissue, and assess surrounding vascular flow before any bedside drainage or further intervention. The imaging guides immediate management of this complication during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: BH48ZZZ

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

BH42-BREASTS-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

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

BH47-UPPER-EXTREMITY-ULTRASONOGRAPHY

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

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

Lower Extremity Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Lower Extremity Ultrasonography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedure is captured by the BH48 code group?

Which ICD-10-PCS code represents ultrasonography of the lower extremity?

In which ICD-10-PCS section and body system is `BH48ZZZ` classified?

Why is accurate coding within the BH48 group important for inpatient care documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the BH48 code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedure is captured by the BH48 code group?

Which ICD-10-PCS code represents ultrasonography of the lower extremity?

In which ICD-10-PCS section and body system is `BH48ZZZ` classified?

Why is accurate coding within the BH48 group important for inpatient care documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the BH48 code group?

References