Summary & Overview
CPT 36245: Selective Arterial Catheterization for Angiography
CPT code 36245 represents selective catheter placement for angiography in each first-order abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch within a vascular family. This procedure enables targeted contrast injection to visualize specific arterial branches and supports diagnosis and treatment planning for vascular disease, trauma, ischemia, and pre-procedural mapping. Nationally, selective arterial angiography is critical for accurate vascular assessment and often precedes endovascular interventions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a national perspective on coverage and billing practices for CPT code 36245, highlighting clinical context, common sites of service, and typical service classification within vascular radiology.
Readers will find concise benchmarks and administrative guidance covering coding intent, common modifier usage patterns, and how 36245 fits within angiographic service lines. The piece also outlines clinical scenarios where selective first-order branch catheterization is used and summarizes implications for hospital outpatient departments and dedicated imaging centers. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36245 describes a selective catheter placement for angiography in each first-order abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch within a vascular family. Angiography is an X-ray study of blood vessels using a radiopaque contrast agent to visualize vasculature for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Service type: Diagnostic and interventional vascular radiology procedure (selective arterial catheterization for angiographic study)
Typical site of service: Hospital-based radiology suites, outpatient imaging centers, and specialized catheterization labs
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 67-year-old male with known peripheral arterial disease presents with progressive left calf claudication and an ulcer on the lateral foot that is slow to heal. Noninvasive arterial Doppler and segmental pressures suggest significant stenosis in the left superficial femoral artery distribution. The interventional radiology or vascular surgery team schedules a diagnostic angiography with possible endovascular intervention. In the angiography suite or hybrid operating room, under conscious sedation or general anesthesia, vascular access is obtained (commonly via the common femoral artery). A diagnostic catheter is advanced selectively into the first-order branch of the left lower extremity arterial tree (for example the profunda femoris or superficial femoral artery) and iodinated contrast is injected to visualize lesion location, length, and runoff. Fluoroscopic imaging is performed to guide any subsequent treatment such as balloon angioplasty, stent placement, or thrombectomy. Typical sites of service are the hospital angiography suite, inpatient interventional radiology suite, outpatient ambulatory surgery center, or hybrid OR. The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure consent and assessment, vascular access and selective catheter placement corresponding to 36245, image acquisition, possible adjunctive endovascular therapy (billed separately if performed), hemostasis/closure, post-procedure monitoring, and documentation of indications, vessels accessed, contrast volume, findings, and any interventions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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