CPT 70240: Sella Turcica X‑ray to Assess Pituitary Gland for Tumor - OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 70240: Sella Turcica X‑ray to Assess Pituitary Gland for Tumor

CPT code 70240 covers radiographic imaging of the sella turcica to assess the pituitary gland for tumors. Nationally, this code represents a focused diagnostic radiology service used in the evaluation of pituitary pathology and can affect imaging utilization patterns, clinical workflows, and radiology service billing. The code is relevant across inpatient and outpatient radiology settings where skull base or pituitary evaluation is indicated.

Key payers included in the discussion are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for pituitary imaging, common places of service, and the types of benchmarks and policy considerations typically associated with imaging CPT codes — including utilization benchmarks, payer coverage themes, and documentation expectations. The publication summarizes available national-level policy updates and payer practices where applicable and identifies gaps where specific payer policy data is not available.

This analysis provides clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts with concise context for CPT code 70240, helping stakeholders understand where the code fits in radiology service lines and what to expect in payer coverage discussions. Data not available in the input will be noted as such in detailed sections.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare70240CPTRadiologySella TurcicaPituitary ImagingDiagnostic ImagingOutpatient RadiologyImaging Utilization

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 70240 describes a radiographic examination of the sella turcica to assess the pituitary gland for tumor. This service involves obtaining X‑ray images focused on the sella turcica region of the skull to evaluate pituitary anatomy and detect mass lesions.

Service type: Diagnostic radiologic imaging
Typical site of service: Outpatient radiology suite or hospital radiology department

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 45-year-old patient presents to outpatient radiology after an endocrinology referral for evaluation of persistent headaches, visual field changes, and laboratory evidence of hyperprolactinemia. The clinician suspects a pituitary adenoma and orders dedicated radiographic imaging of the sella turcica. The patient is registered in the radiology suite, medical history and contraindications are reviewed, informed consent is obtained for radiography, and positioning for lateral and open-mouth views of the sella is performed. The radiologic technologist acquires the images according to facility protocol. Images are processed; the interpreting radiologist reviews and documents findings that assess size, contour, and any sellar or parasellar mass effect. A signed report is transmitted to the referring endocrinologist. Billing uses code 70240 for imaging of the sella turcica to evaluate the pituitary gland for tumor, with modifiers appended as appropriate for professional/technical components, multiple procedures, or unusual circumstances.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the radiologist's interpretation and report for `70240`.

CPT 70487: CT Maxillofacial/Face with Contrast

cpt-70473-ct-cerebral-perfusion-analysis

CPT 70473: CT Cerebral Perfusion Analysis

cpt-70140-facial-bones-xray-fewer-than-three-views

CPT 70140: Facial Bones X-ray, Fewer Than Three Views

cpt-70491-ct-neck-soft-tissue-with-contrast

CPT 70491: CT Scan of Neck Soft Tissues with Contrast

cpt-70350-skull-and-jaw-radiographs-for-orthodontic-measurement

CPT 70350: Skull and Jaw Radiographs for Orthodontic Measurement

cpt-70010-posterior-cranial-fossa-contrast-imaging-interpretation

CPT 70010: Posterior Cranial Fossa Contrast Imaging Interpretation

cpt-70492-ct-neck-with-and-without-contrast

CPT 70492: CT Neck, Without and With Contrast

cpt-70200-orbital-radiography-four-views-orbital-fracture-foreign-body

CPT 70200: Orbital Radiography, Minimum of Four Views

cpt-70540-orbit-face-neck-mri-without-contrast

CPT 70540: MRI of Orbit, Face, or Neck Without Contrast

cpt-70546-magnetic-resonance-angiography-head-with-and-without-contrast

CPT 70546: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Head, With and Without Contrast

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RX0400X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Primary specialty performing and interpreting skull and sella turcica radiographs.
`207RH0006X`	Neuroradiology	Subspecialty engaged when complex intracranial or sellar pathology is suspected.
`103K00000X`	Endocrinology	Referring specialty that often orders pituitary imaging for hormonal abnormalities.
`2084P0800X`	Neurology	Referring specialty when visual field loss or neurologic symptoms prompt evaluation.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D35.2`	Benign neoplasm of pituitary gland	Direct indication for sella turcica radiographs to assess size and bony involvement.
`E22.0`	Acromegaly and pituitary gigantism	Hormonal syndrome often caused by pituitary adenomas; imaging of the sella evaluates adenoma presence.
`E22.1`	Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)	May prompt pituitary evaluation if central causes are suspected.
`E23.0`	Hypopituitarism	Structural pituitary pathology evaluated with imaging of the sella.
`H53.4`	Visual field defects	Visual symptoms can result from sellar masses compressing the optic chiasm; sella imaging assesses bony changes.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`70543`	Magnetic resonance imaging, brain (including brain stem); without contrast material, followed by without and with contrast and then with contrast material and further sequences — Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.
`70551`	Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, without contrast	Commonly performed when higher-resolution soft-tissue evaluation of the pituitary and sella turcica is required after or instead of plain radiographs.
`72020`	Radiologic examination, skull; complete, minimum of 4 views	May be performed in conjunction with dedicated sella views for broader skull assessment.
`76514`	Ultrasound, transcranial Doppler (TCD)	Not typically used for pituitary evaluation; included when vascular evaluation of intracranial structures is indicated.
`76000`	Fluoroscopic guidance, imaging supervision and interpretation	Used when additional real-time imaging is required during an interventional pituitary procedure; ancillary to diagnostic `70240`.

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