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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group CH12 includes procedures performed to image breast tissue using planar nuclear medicine techniques in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and breast. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a radiopharmaceutical is introduced for single plane display of images developed from the capture of radioactive emissions of the bilateral breasts. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS CH12 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Breasts Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes planar nuclear medicine imaging studies of the bilateral breasts that use introduced radioactive materials to capture single-plane images from emitted radiation. These procedures target the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and breast body system and involve administering radiopharmaceuticals and acquiring planar images for diagnostic evaluation. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding is important for inpatient reimbursement and for reflecting the imaging service performed in the medical record. Correct assignment ensures the procedure is captured for case mix and payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
H	Body System	Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Breasts, Bilateral

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

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Breasts Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
H	Body System	Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
1	Operation	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Breasts, Bilateral

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a radiopharmaceutical is administered and planar nuclear imaging is performed on both breasts to evaluate breast tissue. These codes apply when the procedure is documented in the inpatient record as single-plane planar nuclear medicine imaging of the bilateral breasts using introduced radioactive materials.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
CH121ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CH12SZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Thallium 201 (Tl-201)
CH12YZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged woman admitted for evaluation of a suspicious palpable breast mass with equivocal mammography and ultrasound findings who requires inpatient localization and functional assessment of both breasts using radiopharmaceutical planar imaging to help differentiate multifocal disease from benign processes; a technetium-based tracer is selected for planar uptake imaging. Typical codes: CH121ZZ
An elderly patient with known metastatic cancer and new bilateral breast pain and indeterminate lesions on prior outpatient imaging is hospitalized for expedited diagnostic workup; planar nuclear medicine imaging of both breasts is performed using thallium to assess metabolic activity and help guide further inpatient management. Typical codes: CH12SZZ
A preoperative inpatient evaluation of a patient with extensive post-surgical scarring in both breasts after multiple prior procedures where conventional imaging is inconclusive; planar breast imaging with an alternative radionuclide is used to map functional uptake across both breasts before planned reconstructive or diagnostic interventions. Typical codes: CH12YZZ

Related Codes

CH10-BREAST-RIGHT-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Breast Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CH11-LEFT-BREAST-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Breast: Procedure Code Group Overview

CH1Y-SKIN-SUBCUTANEOUS-TISSUE-BREAST-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Subcutaneous Tissue And Breast: 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
CH121ZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CH12SZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Thallium 201 (Tl-201)
CH12YZZ	Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Bilateral Breasts using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged woman admitted for evaluation of a suspicious palpable breast mass with equivocal mammography and ultrasound findings who requires inpatient localization and functional assessment of both breasts using radiopharmaceutical planar imaging to help differentiate multifocal disease from benign processes; a technetium-based tracer is selected for planar uptake imaging. Typical codes: CH121ZZ
An elderly patient with known metastatic cancer and new bilateral breast pain and indeterminate lesions on prior outpatient imaging is hospitalized for expedited diagnostic workup; planar nuclear medicine imaging of both breasts is performed using thallium to assess metabolic activity and help guide further inpatient management. Typical codes: CH12SZZ
A preoperative inpatient evaluation of a patient with extensive post-surgical scarring in both breasts after multiple prior procedures where conventional imaging is inconclusive; planar breast imaging with an alternative radionuclide is used to map functional uptake across both breasts before planned reconstructive or diagnostic interventions. Typical codes: CH12YZZ

Related Codes

CH10-BREAST-RIGHT-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Breast Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CH11-LEFT-BREAST-PLANAR-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Breast: Procedure Code Group Overview

CH1Y-SKIN-SUBCUTANEOUS-TISSUE-BREAST-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Subcutaneous Tissue And Breast: 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 Breasts Bilateral: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Breasts Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Breasts Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS CH12 code group?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes in this group and their radionuclides?

For what clinical setting are CH12 codes used in documentation?

Why is accurate coding within the CH12 group important for reimbursement?

What body system and operation attributes are assigned to the CH12 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS CH12 code group?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes in this group and their radionuclides?

For what clinical setting are CH12 codes used in documentation?

Why is accurate coding within the CH12 group important for reimbursement?

What body system and operation attributes are assigned to the CH12 group?

References