Summary & Overview
CPT 0690T: Quantitative Ultrasound Tissue Analysis and Interpretation
CPT code 0690T defines a quantitative tissue analysis and interpretation service performed in conjunction with a primary diagnostic ultrasound of the same anatomy. The code captures use of ultrasound imaging data plus software to derive quantitative tissue metrics and a clinician’s interpretation and report. This capability is increasingly relevant as imaging advances enable objective tissue characterization that can influence diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment planning.
Key national payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The summary addresses how payers approach coverage and coding for adjunctive imaging analytics and what clinicians and billing teams need to document when submitting service lines tied to a primary diagnostic ultrasound.
Readers will find benchmarks and operational context for billing and claims submission, an overview of clinical use cases and typical sites of service, and a synopsis of common modifier usage and documentation expectations. Where payer-specific policy or coverage guidance is not available in the input, the report notes the absence of that data. The focus is on national implications for adoption of quantitative ultrasound analysis, coding clarity when this adjunctive service accompanies diagnostic ultrasound, and the documentation elements central to reimbursement and audit readiness.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0690T describes an advanced imaging analysis service provided in conjunction with a primary diagnostic ultrasound of the same anatomy. The service uses ultrasound imaging data and specialized software to produce quantitative tissue analysis, followed by a formal interpretation and report by the provider.
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Service type: Quantitative ultrasound image analysis and interpretation
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Typical site of service: Performed where diagnostic ultrasound is provided, commonly in outpatient imaging centers, hospital imaging departments, or specialty clinics that perform diagnostic ultrasound
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient with a history of chronic liver disease is referred for a diagnostic abdominal ultrasound to evaluate focal liver lesions identified on prior imaging. During the ultrasound study, the sonographer acquires standard B-mode and Doppler images of the liver. The interpreting physician uses specialized ultrasound imaging software to perform quantitative tissue analysis (for example, elastography or quantitative attenuation) of the same liver anatomy captured during the diagnostic exam, and then generates a separate interpretation and documented report of the quantitative results to supplement the primary ultrasound findings. The workflow includes: obtaining the primary diagnostic ultrasound of the same anatomy, acquiring and storing the imaging data, processing the data using analysis software, and producing a signed interpretation and report of the quantitative tissue analysis appended to the diagnostic study.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the physician interpretation component separate from the technical component. |
TC | Technical component | When billing only the equipment, technician, and facility component. |
59 | Distinct procedural service | Data not available in the input. |
22 | Increased procedural service | When the quantitative analysis involves substantially greater work or complexity than typical. |
52 | Reduced services | When the quantitative analysis is partially performed or limited. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | When the quantitative analysis is started but terminated for patient-related or clinical reasons. |
78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period | When an unplanned repeat quantitative ultrasound analysis is performed in the immediate post-procedure period. |
62 | Two surgeons | When two qualified physicians share the work of the interpretation and both meet reporting requirements. |
26 | Professional component | When the provider reports only the interpretation portion of the quantitative analysis (duplicate of above for emphasis). |
QK | Medical direction of two, three, or four concurrent anesthesia procedures | Data not specifically applicable but listed among common modifiers; use per anesthesia coding rules. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 207T00000X | Diagnostic Radiology | Radiologists commonly perform and interpret quantitative ultrasound analyses. |
| 207RR0500X | Interventional Radiology | Interventional radiologists perform advanced ultrasound assessments during procedures. |
| 207K00000X | Neurology | Neurologists may use quantitative ultrasound in vascular or neuromuscular applications when applicable. |
| 163WL0500X | Cardiology | Cardiologists use ultrasound quantitation (e.g., myocardial strain) when performed on cardiac anatomy. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
K76.9 | Liver disease, unspecified | Quantitative liver ultrasound (e.g., elastography) assists assessment of fibrosis or steatosis during abdominal ultrasound. |
K74.60 | Unspecified cirrhosis of liver | Elastography and attenuation quantitation help stage fibrosis in cirrhosis evaluation. |
R16.0 | Hepatomegaly | Quantitative tissue metrics supplement structural findings when the liver is enlarged. |
C22.9 | Malignant neoplasm of liver, unspecified | Quantitative tissue characterization can aid in lesion assessment alongside standard sonography. |
K75.9 | Inflammatory liver disease, unspecified | Quantitative measures may help evaluate tissue changes from inflammation. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
76700 | Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; complete | The primary diagnostic abdominal ultrasound of the same anatomy that would be performed before or concurrent with the quantitative analysis billed with 0690T. |
76705 | Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited | A limited diagnostic abdominal ultrasound when only a focused survey of the anatomy is performed prior to quantitative analysis. |
76942 | Ultrasonic guidance for percutaneous placement of radiation therapy fields | Ultrasonic guidance codes are sometimes used in workflows where quantitative ultrasound guides interventions; related when guidance is required. |
93000 | Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; with interpretation and report | Supportive diagnostic testing that may be performed in the same encounter for cardiovascular-related ultrasound analyses. |
76377 | 3D rendering with interpretation and reporting of CT/CTA, MR/MRA, PET/CT or other tomographic modality; rendering of image data | Analogous to advanced post-processing and reporting; relates conceptually to software-based quantitative analysis workflows. |