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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group BW28 includes procedures performed to image cranial structures in the head. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when computerized tomography scans with computer reformatted digital multiplanar images of the head are performed. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS BW28 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Head Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes computerized tomography imaging of the head using computer reformatted digital display of multiplanar images developed from multiple exposures of external ionizing radiation. These procedures target the anatomical regions of the head and surrounding cranial structures within the Imaging section of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS). Accurate coding ensures inpatient records reflect the imaging performed and supports appropriate inpatient reimbursement and case mix assignment. Precise selection of the correct ICD-10-PCS code is important for clinical documentation and billing integrity.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
2	Operation	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
8	Body Part	Head

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

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Head Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
B	Section	Imaging
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
2	Operation	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
8	Body Part	Head

When to Use

Use a code from this group when an inpatient receives a computerized tomography scan of the head with computer reformatted multiplanar images generated from multiple exposures of external ionizing radiation. Select the specific ICD-10-PCS code that matches the imaging technique and anatomical focus documented in the medical record.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

7 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
BW2800Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using High Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW280ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using High Osmolar Contrast
BW2810Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Low Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW281ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Low Osmolar Contrast
BW28Y0Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW28YZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Other Contrast
BW28ZZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient presents to the emergency department after a fall with new-onset severe headache, focal neurologic deficits, and rapid decline in mental status; inpatient admission is required for observation and neurosurgical evaluation, and a CT of the head with reformatted multiplanar images is performed urgently to assess for acute intracranial hemorrhage or skull fracture. Typical codes: BW28ZZZ, BW281ZZ
A middle-aged patient admitted from clinic for preoperative planning of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery after MRI identified a sellar mass; a high-resolution CT of the head with computer-reformatted multiplanar images is obtained to delineate bony anatomy and surgical corridors, sometimes with IV contrast to evaluate vascular relationships. Typical codes: BW2800Z, BW2810Z
A hospitalized patient with known metastatic cancer develops new confusion and concern for intracranial metastases progression; the inpatient team orders a CT head with multiplanar reformats both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced to rapidly evaluate for mass effect, hemorrhage, or edema when MRI is contraindicated. Typical codes: BW28Y0Z, BW28ZZZ

Related Codes

BW20-ABDOMEN-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW21-ABDOMEN-AND-PELVIS-CT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdomen And Pelvis: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW24-CHEST-AND-ABDOMEN-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest And Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW25-CHEST-ABDOMEN-AND-PELVIS-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Abdomen And Pelvis: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW29-HEAD-AND-NECK-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW2F-NECK-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW2G-PELVIC-REGION-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Region: 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
BW2800Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using High Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW280ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using High Osmolar Contrast
BW2810Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Low Osmolar Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW281ZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Low Osmolar Contrast
BW28Y0Z	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Other Contrast, Unenhanced and Enhanced
BW28YZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head using Other Contrast
BW28ZZZ	Computerized Tomography (CT Scan) of Head

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient presents to the emergency department after a fall with new-onset severe headache, focal neurologic deficits, and rapid decline in mental status; inpatient admission is required for observation and neurosurgical evaluation, and a CT of the head with reformatted multiplanar images is performed urgently to assess for acute intracranial hemorrhage or skull fracture. Typical codes: BW28ZZZ, BW281ZZ
A middle-aged patient admitted from clinic for preoperative planning of transsphenoidal pituitary surgery after MRI identified a sellar mass; a high-resolution CT of the head with computer-reformatted multiplanar images is obtained to delineate bony anatomy and surgical corridors, sometimes with IV contrast to evaluate vascular relationships. Typical codes: BW2800Z, BW2810Z
A hospitalized patient with known metastatic cancer develops new confusion and concern for intracranial metastases progression; the inpatient team orders a CT head with multiplanar reformats both unenhanced and contrast-enhanced to rapidly evaluate for mass effect, hemorrhage, or edema when MRI is contraindicated. Typical codes: BW28Y0Z, BW28ZZZ

Related Codes

BW20-ABDOMEN-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW21-ABDOMEN-AND-PELVIS-CT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdomen And Pelvis: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW24-CHEST-AND-ABDOMEN-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest And Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW25-CHEST-ABDOMEN-AND-PELVIS-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Abdomen And Pelvis: Procedure Code Group Overview

BW29-HEAD-AND-NECK-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW2F-NECK-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

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

BW2G-PELVIC-REGION-COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Region: 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 Head: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Head Computerized Tomography Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Head Computerized Tomography 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 BW28?

What is the primary operation and body system described by BW28 codes?

How do the individual codes in BW28 differ from one another?

Why is accurate coding within the BW28 group important for inpatient records?

Where do BW28 procedures reside within ICD-10-PCS structure?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group BW28?

What is the primary operation and body system described by BW28 codes?

How do the individual codes in BW28 differ from one another?

Why is accurate coding within the BW28 group important for inpatient records?

Where do BW28 procedures reside within ICD-10-PCS structure?

References