Summary & Overview
CPT 62290: Discography (Discogram) Diagnostic Spinal Injection
CPT code 62290 denotes discography, a diagnostic spinal injection in which contrast is introduced into the nucleus pulposus to visualize and assess intervertebral disc pathology. Nationally, discography is a specialized diagnostic tool used in the evaluation of chronic neck and back pain when imaging and clinical assessment do not clearly identify the pain source. The code matters for billing and clinical documentation because it captures a targeted diagnostic procedure often performed in outpatient surgical facilities and specialized spine or pain centers.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for discography, typical sites of service, and what the procedure represents in care pathways for discogenic pain. The publication also outlines common modifiers and related billing considerations, summarizes payer coverage patterns where available, and highlights performance and documentation elements relevant to coder and clinician workflows.
This briefing is written for a national audience and focuses on procedural definition, clinical role, and payment and coding considerations tied to CPT code 62290. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 62290 describes a diagnostic discography procedure in which contrast is injected into the nucleus pulposus — the gel-like center of an intervertebral disc — to visualize the disc space and evaluate disc integrity. This procedure is also called a discogram or disc stimulation and is used to identify discogenic sources of neck or back pain.
Service type: Diagnostic spinal injection procedure (discography)
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department, with potential performance in specialized pain or spine centers depending on clinical setting.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 41-year-old patient with chronic axial low back pain radiating intermittently to the buttock and groin presents after conservative care (physical therapy, NSAIDs, and epidural steroid injections) failed to provide durable relief. MRI shows multilevel disc degeneration with a suspected symptomatic disc at L4-L5 correlating with the pain distribution. The pain specialist schedules a diagnostic lumbar discography to identify the pain-generating disc prior to considering surgical fusion or targeted endoscopic intervention. During the outpatient procedure in an ambulatory surgery center, the patient is positioned prone, monitored with continuous ECG and pulse oximetry, and given conscious sedation. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a spinal needle is advanced into the nucleus pulposus of the target disc(s). Contrast is injected into each disc while the patient reports provoked pain responses; images are obtained to document disc morphology and annular disruption. Post-procedure, the patient is observed for hemodynamic stability and neurologic changes, provided discharge instructions, and given arrangements for follow-up surgical planning if the discogram reproduces concordant pain.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician interpretation of imaging or test results associated with the procedure |