ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group BR39 includes procedures performed to image structures in the lumbar spine. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is performed to evaluate or monitor spinal pathology. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS BR39 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes inpatient magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, which captures multiplanar images using radiofrequency signals within a magnetic field. Procedures target the axial skeleton within the lumbar spine and provide detailed soft tissue and neural visualization. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding ensures the imaging performed is correctly documented for inpatient reimbursement and case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
R	Body System	Axial Skeleton, Except Skull and Facial Bones
3	Operation	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
9	Body Part	Lumbar Spine

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
R	Body System	Axial Skeleton, Except Skull and Facial Bones
3	Operation	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
9	Body Part	Lumbar Spine

When to Use

Use a code from this group when inpatient magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is performed to evaluate, diagnose, or monitor lumbar spinal conditions. Select the ICD-10-PCS code that reflects the imaging modality, body system, and specific lumbar spine target documented in the medical record.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BR39Y0Z	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BR39YZZ	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine using Other Contrast
BR39ZZZ	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 68-year-old patient is admitted from the emergency department with acute onset severe lower back pain radiating to the left leg after a fall. Neurologic exam shows new left-sided radicular weakness and sensory loss, prompting inpatient imaging to evaluate for acute disc herniation or nerve root compression; magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is ordered with and without contrast to better characterize suspected soft tissue injury and rule out epidural hematoma or abscess. The inpatient MRI captures multiplanar images of the lumbar spine to guide urgent clinical management. Typical codes: BR39Y0Z
A 54-year-old patient with a history of progressive neurogenic claudication and known lumbar spinal stenosis is admitted for planned preoperative evaluation prior to decompression surgery. Inpatient magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is obtained to delineate the level and severity of central canal narrowing and to assist surgical planning; imaging is performed without contrast because the indication is to evaluate degenerative stenotic changes. The study provides high-resolution multiplanar visualization of the lumbar neural elements. Typical codes: BR39ZZZ
A 60-year-old patient with a prior history of spinal instrumentation and persistent postoperative back pain is admitted for evaluation of possible postoperative infection or recurrent pathology. Because prior imaging is inconclusive, inpatient lumbar spine MRI with contrast is performed to assess for an enhancing epidural or paraspinal abscess and to differentiate scar tissue from recurrent disc herniation. The contrast-enhanced multiplanar MRI focuses on the lumbar spine anatomy in the region of surgical change. Typical codes: BR39YZZ

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR31-CERVICAL-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Disc(s): Procedure Code Group Overview

BR32-THORACIC-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR33-LUMBAR-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR37-THORACIC-SPINE-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR3C-PELVIS-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvis: 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

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BR39Y0Z	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BR39YZZ	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine using Other Contrast
BR39ZZZ	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Lumbar Spine

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 68-year-old patient is admitted from the emergency department with acute onset severe lower back pain radiating to the left leg after a fall. Neurologic exam shows new left-sided radicular weakness and sensory loss, prompting inpatient imaging to evaluate for acute disc herniation or nerve root compression; magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is ordered with and without contrast to better characterize suspected soft tissue injury and rule out epidural hematoma or abscess. The inpatient MRI captures multiplanar images of the lumbar spine to guide urgent clinical management. Typical codes: BR39Y0Z
A 54-year-old patient with a history of progressive neurogenic claudication and known lumbar spinal stenosis is admitted for planned preoperative evaluation prior to decompression surgery. Inpatient magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is obtained to delineate the level and severity of central canal narrowing and to assist surgical planning; imaging is performed without contrast because the indication is to evaluate degenerative stenotic changes. The study provides high-resolution multiplanar visualization of the lumbar neural elements. Typical codes: BR39ZZZ
A 60-year-old patient with a prior history of spinal instrumentation and persistent postoperative back pain is admitted for evaluation of possible postoperative infection or recurrent pathology. Because prior imaging is inconclusive, inpatient lumbar spine MRI with contrast is performed to assess for an enhancing epidural or paraspinal abscess and to differentiate scar tissue from recurrent disc herniation. The contrast-enhanced multiplanar MRI focuses on the lumbar spine anatomy in the region of surgical change. Typical codes: BR39YZZ

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR31-CERVICAL-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Disc(s): Procedure Code Group Overview

BR32-THORACIC-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR33-LUMBAR-DISC-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR37-THORACIC-SPINE-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

BR3C-PELVIS-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvis: 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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ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

OpenPayer

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Lumbar Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group BR39?

What is the purpose of using BR39 codes in inpatient documentation?

What are the code attributes for the BR39 procedure group?

Do BR39 codes indicate use of contrast during the MRI?

Are there related DRGs listed for BR39 procedures?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group BR39?

What is the purpose of using BR39 codes in inpatient documentation?

What are the code attributes for the BR39 procedure group?

Do BR39 codes indicate use of contrast during the MRI?

Are there related DRGs listed for BR39 procedures?

References