ICD-10-PCS Code For Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group CB12 includes procedures performed to image radioactive emissions in the lungs and bronchi. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when planar nuclear medicine imaging with introduced radioactive materials is performed for diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary function or pathology. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS CB12 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific diagnostic imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Lungs And Bronchi Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes planar nuclear medicine imaging studies of the lungs and bronchi that use introduced radioactive materials to capture single-plane images from emitted radiation. These procedures target the respiratory system and evaluate ventilation, perfusion, or other functional aspects of the lungs and bronchi. Accurate coding ensures the inpatient record reflects the diagnostic imaging performed and supports appropriate reimbursement and case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
B	Body System	Respiratory System
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Lungs and Bronchi

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Lungs And Bronchi Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
B	Body System	Respiratory System
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Lungs and Bronchi

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient undergoes planar nuclear medicine imaging of the lungs and bronchi with introduction of radioactive materials for single-plane image capture. These codes apply when the procedure is performed inpatient for diagnostic evaluation of lung function, suspected pulmonary embolism, or other respiratory conditions requiring radionuclide imaging.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

5 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
CB121ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CB129ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Krypton (Kr-81m)
CB12TZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Xenon 127 (Xe-127)
CB12VZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Xenon 133 (Xe-133)
CB12YZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient is admitted with acute onset dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain after recent long-haul travel; clinical suspicion is high for pulmonary embolism and initial CT angiography is inconclusive due to contrast allergy and renal impairment. An inpatient ventilation–perfusion planar nuclear medicine study is ordered to assess regional pulmonary perfusion and ventilation to detect mismatched defects consistent with emboli. Typical codes: CB121ZZ, CB12VZZ
A hospitalized patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and unexplained hypoxemia undergoes a planned inpatient evaluation to quantify regional ventilation distribution prior to consideration for lung volume reduction procedures. A radionuclide planar ventilation scan is performed using inhaled xenon to map ventilation abnormalities and guide therapeutic decision-making. Typical codes: CB12TZZ, CB12VZZ
A postoperative patient in the inpatient unit develops sudden unexplained drop in oxygen saturation and tachycardia; bedside evaluation raises concern for new, segmental pulmonary emboli but the patient cannot be transported for CT. A rapid planar perfusion scan using intravenously administered technetium is performed to evaluate pulmonary blood flow and identify perfusion defects. Typical codes: CB121ZZ

Related Codes

CB1Y-RESPIRATORY-SYSTEM-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory System: 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

5 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
CB121ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CB129ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Krypton (Kr-81m)
CB12TZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Xenon 127 (Xe-127)
CB12VZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Xenon 133 (Xe-133)
CB12YZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Lungs and Bronchi using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient is admitted with acute onset dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain after recent long-haul travel; clinical suspicion is high for pulmonary embolism and initial CT angiography is inconclusive due to contrast allergy and renal impairment. An inpatient ventilation–perfusion planar nuclear medicine study is ordered to assess regional pulmonary perfusion and ventilation to detect mismatched defects consistent with emboli. Typical codes: CB121ZZ, CB12VZZ
A hospitalized patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and unexplained hypoxemia undergoes a planned inpatient evaluation to quantify regional ventilation distribution prior to consideration for lung volume reduction procedures. A radionuclide planar ventilation scan is performed using inhaled xenon to map ventilation abnormalities and guide therapeutic decision-making. Typical codes: CB12TZZ, CB12VZZ
A postoperative patient in the inpatient unit develops sudden unexplained drop in oxygen saturation and tachycardia; bedside evaluation raises concern for new, segmental pulmonary emboli but the patient cannot be transported for CT. A rapid planar perfusion scan using intravenously administered technetium is performed to evaluate pulmonary blood flow and identify perfusion defects. Typical codes: CB121ZZ

Related Codes

CB1Y-RESPIRATORY-SYSTEM-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory System: 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 Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lungs And Bronchi Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lungs And Bronchi: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lungs And Bronchi 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 CB12 code group?

What is the ICD-10-PCS section, body system, and operation for CB12 codes?

Which specific radionuclide-based codes are listed in this group?

When should these ICD-10-PCS CB12 codes be used in inpatient documentation?

How does accurate coding in the CB12 group affect reimbursement and records?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS CB12 code group?

What is the ICD-10-PCS section, body system, and operation for CB12 codes?

Which specific radionuclide-based codes are listed in this group?

When should these ICD-10-PCS CB12 codes be used in inpatient documentation?

How does accurate coding in the CB12 group affect reimbursement and records?

References