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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group C21Y includes procedures performed to image the heart using planar nuclear medicine techniques. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a radiopharmaceutical is introduced for single plane capture of radioactive emissions to produce cardiac images. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS C21Y group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

This group includes procedures that involve planar nuclear medicine imaging of the heart, where a radiopharmaceutical is introduced and single-plane images are produced from captured radioactive emissions. The procedures target the heart within the cardiovascular system and are used to assess cardiac structure and function. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding of these imaging procedures is important for inpatient documentation and reimbursement because it captures the specific imaging technique and radionuclide used.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
2	Body System	Heart
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Y	Body Part	Heart

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

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Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
2	Body System	Heart
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Y	Body Part	Heart

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a radionuclide is introduced and planar nuclear medicine imaging is performed specifically to image the heart. Codes in this group apply when single-plane imaging is the chosen modality for inpatient cardiac nuclear imaging.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
C21YYZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Heart using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient is admitted with acute chest pain and nondiagnostic ECG changes; troponins are equivocal. To evaluate myocardial perfusion and identify areas of ischemia or infarction when other imaging modalities are limited, a planar nuclear medicine study of the heart is performed after administration of a radiopharmaceutical. The single‑plane capture is used to rapidly assess perfusion while the patient is in the inpatient setting. Typical codes: C21YYZZ
A hospitalized patient with known coronary artery disease and new exertional dyspnea undergoes planned inpatient testing to assess myocardial perfusion reserve and guide medical management. Because the study is scheduled and requires inpatient monitoring due to comorbidities, a planar nuclear medicine imaging of the heart using an appropriate radionuclide is performed to compare perfusion at rest and under stress conditions. Typical codes: C21YYZZ
A patient admitted for evaluation of suspected postinfarction complications has prior contrast‑based imaging contraindicated due to renal dysfunction. To reevaluate myocardial perfusion and delineate viable myocardium before potential intervention, a repeat planar nuclear medicine cardiac imaging study is performed using a radiopharmaceutical suitable for inpatient assessment. The procedure serves as a follow‑up imaging study to clarify areas of infarct versus salvageable tissue. Typical codes: C21YYZZ

ICD-10-PCS Code For Heart Right And Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

C21G-MYOCARDIUM-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Myocardium: 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

1 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
C21YYZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Heart using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient is admitted with acute chest pain and nondiagnostic ECG changes; troponins are equivocal. To evaluate myocardial perfusion and identify areas of ischemia or infarction when other imaging modalities are limited, a planar nuclear medicine study of the heart is performed after administration of a radiopharmaceutical. The single‑plane capture is used to rapidly assess perfusion while the patient is in the inpatient setting. Typical codes: C21YYZZ
A hospitalized patient with known coronary artery disease and new exertional dyspnea undergoes planned inpatient testing to assess myocardial perfusion reserve and guide medical management. Because the study is scheduled and requires inpatient monitoring due to comorbidities, a planar nuclear medicine imaging of the heart using an appropriate radionuclide is performed to compare perfusion at rest and under stress conditions. Typical codes: C21YYZZ
A patient admitted for evaluation of suspected postinfarction complications has prior contrast‑based imaging contraindicated due to renal dysfunction. To reevaluate myocardial perfusion and delineate viable myocardium before potential intervention, a repeat planar nuclear medicine cardiac imaging study is performed using a radiopharmaceutical suitable for inpatient assessment. The procedure serves as a follow‑up imaging study to clarify areas of infarct versus salvageable tissue. Typical codes: C21YYZZ

ICD-10-PCS Code For Heart Right And Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

C21G-MYOCARDIUM-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Myocardium: 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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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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

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Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine 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 Heart: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Heart Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging 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 C21Y?

What is the operation and body part specified by this code group?

How is `C21YYZZ` described in this code group?

Why is accurate coding within the C21Y group important for inpatient documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the C21Y code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group C21Y?

What is the operation and body part specified by this code group?

How is `C21YYZZ` described in this code group?

Why is accurate coding within the C21Y group important for inpatient documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the C21Y code group?

References