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CPT 23350: Shoulder Arthrography Contrast Injection
CPT code 23350 represents an image-guided injection of contrast into the shoulder joint to perform shoulder arthrography and obtain diagnostic imaging for evaluation of soft tissue injury. Nationally, this code is used in radiology and orthopedics to support diagnostic workflows for suspected labral tears, rotator cuff injuries, and other intra‑articular shoulder conditions. It matters because it directs billing for the procedural component that enables enhanced CT or MRI imaging and influences imaging utilization and payment for shoulder diagnostic pathways.
Key payers considered include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical purpose and typical service setting for the code, an outline of common modifiers and billing considerations (where available), and benchmarks and payer coverage context where applicable. The publication highlights national clinical context, how the procedure integrates with advanced imaging (CT/MRI arthrography), and the areas where policy updates and payer-specific coverage rules commonly affect use. Data not available in the input is noted where payer-specific rates, associated taxonomies, and ICD‑10 diagnosis mappings would normally be presented.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 23350 describes an injection of contrast into the shoulder joint for shoulder arthrography, a diagnostic procedure in which a provider injects contrast into the glenohumeral joint and then obtains a series of X‑ray images. The test is used to assess the shoulder joint for soft tissue injury, such as labral or rotator cuff pathology. The procedure may be followed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce enhanced CT or MRI shoulder arthrography images.
Service type: Image-guided diagnostic injection / arthrography procedure
Typical site of service: Radiology or imaging center, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory surgery center, where fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance and subsequent CT or MRI imaging are available.