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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group CP22 includes procedures performed to image the cervical spine using tomographic nuclear medicine techniques that capture three-dimensional displays of radioactive emissions. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when three-dimensional nuclear medicine imaging of the cervical spine is performed to assess structural or functional pathology. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS CP22 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific imaging procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Cervical Spine Tomographic Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

This group includes tomographic nuclear medicine imaging procedures that capture three-dimensional images of the cervical spine by detecting radioactive emissions. These procedures target the musculoskeletal system, specifically the cervical spine, to evaluate structure and function using nuclear medicine techniques. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding of these procedures is important for reflecting the imaging performed in the inpatient record and for appropriate case mix and reimbursement.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
P	Body System	Musculoskeletal System
2	Operation	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Cervical Spine

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

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Cervical Spine Tomographic Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
C	Section	Nuclear Medicine
P	Body System	Musculoskeletal System
2	Operation	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging
2	Body Part	Cervical Spine

When to Use

Use a code from this group when inpatient tomographic nuclear medicine imaging is performed specifically on the cervical spine to evaluate structural or functional conditions. These codes apply when radioactive materials are introduced and emissions are captured to generate three-dimensional diagnostic images.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
CP221ZZ	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Cervical Spine using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CP22YZZ	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Cervical Spine using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient is admitted with acute severe neck pain and neurologic signs after a motor vehicle collision. Clinical concern is for occult cervical vertebral fracture or altered vertebral perfusion not fully characterized by CT; tomographic nuclear medicine imaging is performed by introducing a radionuclide to generate three-dimensional functional images of the cervical spine to assess for bone injury and altered radiotracer uptake. The study is used to identify focal increased or decreased activity that could indicate fracture, osteomyelitis, or avascular changes in the acute trauma setting. Typical codes: CP221ZZ
A hospitalized elderly patient with progressive neck pain and elevated inflammatory markers undergoes scheduled inpatient diagnostic evaluation for suspected cervical spine osteomyelitis. Tomographic nuclear medicine imaging is performed using an appropriate radionuclide to obtain three-dimensional images of the cervical vertebrae to localize infectious focus and evaluate extent of bone involvement prior to targeted therapy decisions. Typical codes: CP22YZZ
A patient with prior cervical spine surgery presents with persistent postoperative pain and concern for hardware-related infection versus aseptic inflammation. To differentiate inflammatory changes from infection and to evaluate bone metabolism around the surgical site, tomographic nuclear medicine imaging of the cervical spine is performed by administering a radionuclide and capturing three-dimensional emission images to localize abnormal tracer uptake adjacent to the instrumentation. Typical codes: CP22YZZ

Related Codes

CP21-SKULL-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP23-SKULL-AND-CERVICAL-SPINE-TOMOGRAPHIC

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

CP24-THORAX-TOMOGRAPHIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

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

CP26-PELVIS-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP27-SPINE-PELVIS-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP28-UPPER-EXTREMITY-RIGHT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP29-UPPER-EXTREMITY-LEFT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2B-UPPER-EXTREMITIES-BILATERAL-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremities Bilateral: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2C-LOWER-EXTREMITY-RIGHT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Extremity, Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2D-LEFT-LOWER-EXTREMITY-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Lower Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 15

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

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
CP221ZZ	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Cervical Spine using Technetium 99m (Tc-99m)
CP22YZZ	Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Cervical Spine using Other Radionuclide

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient is admitted with acute severe neck pain and neurologic signs after a motor vehicle collision. Clinical concern is for occult cervical vertebral fracture or altered vertebral perfusion not fully characterized by CT; tomographic nuclear medicine imaging is performed by introducing a radionuclide to generate three-dimensional functional images of the cervical spine to assess for bone injury and altered radiotracer uptake. The study is used to identify focal increased or decreased activity that could indicate fracture, osteomyelitis, or avascular changes in the acute trauma setting. Typical codes: CP221ZZ
A hospitalized elderly patient with progressive neck pain and elevated inflammatory markers undergoes scheduled inpatient diagnostic evaluation for suspected cervical spine osteomyelitis. Tomographic nuclear medicine imaging is performed using an appropriate radionuclide to obtain three-dimensional images of the cervical vertebrae to localize infectious focus and evaluate extent of bone involvement prior to targeted therapy decisions. Typical codes: CP22YZZ
A patient with prior cervical spine surgery presents with persistent postoperative pain and concern for hardware-related infection versus aseptic inflammation. To differentiate inflammatory changes from infection and to evaluate bone metabolism around the surgical site, tomographic nuclear medicine imaging of the cervical spine is performed by administering a radionuclide and capturing three-dimensional emission images to localize abnormal tracer uptake adjacent to the instrumentation. Typical codes: CP22YZZ

Related Codes

CP21-SKULL-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP23-SKULL-AND-CERVICAL-SPINE-TOMOGRAPHIC

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

CP24-THORAX-TOMOGRAPHIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

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

CP26-PELVIS-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP27-SPINE-PELVIS-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

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

CP28-UPPER-EXTREMITY-RIGHT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP29-UPPER-EXTREMITY-LEFT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2B-UPPER-EXTREMITIES-BILATERAL-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremities Bilateral: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2C-LOWER-EXTREMITY-RIGHT-TOMOGRAPHIC

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Extremity, Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

CP2D-LEFT-LOWER-EXTREMITY-TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGING

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Lower Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 15

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 Cervical Spine: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Cervical Spine Tomographic Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Cervical Spine Tomographic Nuclear Medicine Imaging Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS section and operation describe the CP22 code group?

What body part and clinical purpose are captured by the CP22 codes?

What are the specific codes included in the CP22 group and how do they differ?

Why is accurate coding within the CP22 group important for inpatient documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the CP22 code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS section and operation describe the CP22 code group?

What body part and clinical purpose are captured by the CP22 codes?

What are the specific codes included in the CP22 group and how do they differ?

Why is accurate coding within the CP22 group important for inpatient documentation?

Are there related DRGs listed for the CP22 code group?

References