CPT 70473: CT Cerebral Perfusion Analysis

CPT code 70473 represents a standalone CT cerebral perfusion analysis—an advanced diagnostic imaging study that quantifies blood flow and perfusion parameters in the brain using contrast-enhanced CT and postprocessing software. This code applies when perfusion analysis is performed without a concurrent CT or CT angiography of the same anatomy. Nationally, CT perfusion is an important tool in acute stroke triage, hemorrhage assessment, tumor characterization, and treatment planning because it provides physiologic information beyond anatomic imaging alone.

Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find context on clinical indications and typical sites of service, an outline of payer coverage considerations, and links to related imaging codes and billing practice notes. The publication summarizes benchmarks for utilization and billing practice where available and highlights policy updates relevant to imaging approval, documentation, and postprocessing software use.

This article is intended for health system administrators, radiology billing teams, and policy analysts seeking a concise, national-level briefing on CPT code 70473, its clinical role, and implications for billing and coverage workflows. Data not available in the input.

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 70473 describes a computed tomography (CT) cerebral perfusion analysis performed without a concurrent CT or computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the same anatomy. The study uses intravenous contrast and computer-based postprocessing to measure cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time to evaluate perfusion of brain tissue.

Service type: Diagnostic imaging — CT perfusion study with postprocessing

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging center or outpatient radiology department, including emergency department-associated imaging units for acute stroke evaluation.

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old male presents to the emergency department with acute onset left-sided weakness and aphasia that began 90 minutes earlier. Neurologic exam suggests an ischemic stroke in the right cerebral hemisphere. Noncontrast CT of the head excludes hemorrhage. The stroke team requests a CT cerebral perfusion study to assess salvageable penumbra versus established infarct core to inform eligibility for mechanical thrombectomy and reperfusion therapy. Contrast is administered intravenously and dynamic bolus-tracking images are acquired. The perfusion data are processed by dedicated software to generate cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time maps. Results are reviewed by the interpreting radiologist and the stroke neurologist to guide acute management.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing the radiologists interpretation separate from the technical component.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the facility/equipment component of the study.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080S0000X	Radiology - Diagnostic Radiology	Interpreting radiologists who perform neuroimaging interpretation.
207RH0000X	Neurology	Stroke neurologists involved in clinical decision-making.
2084P0800X	Vascular & Interventional Radiology	When perfusion is part of endovascular stroke workflow and interventionalists review results.
2086S0101X	Neuroradiology	Subspecialty radiologists with expertise in brain perfusion studies.
363LF0000X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians who order and coordinate acute stroke imaging.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I63.9`	Cerebral infarction, unspecified	Common indication to evaluate ischemic core and penumbra for acute stroke treatment planning.
`I63.8`	Other cerebral infarction	Used for specific infarct subtypes where perfusion imaging helps delineate tissue at risk.
`I61.9`	Intracerebral hemorrhage, unspecified	Perfusion is not indicated if hemorrhage is present; a noncontrast CT is used first to exclude this.
`G45.9`	Transient cerebral ischemic attack, unspecified	Perfusion may be used selectively to evaluate residual perfusion deficits or risk of infarction.
`I67.89`	Other cerebrovascular disease	Perfusion imaging can assist in assessing chronic or acute cerebrovascular conditions affecting perfusion.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`70450`	CT head without contrast	Often performed prior to perfusion to exclude intracranial hemorrhage before contrast administration.
`70496`	CT angiography, head/neck (combined or separate studies)	Performed commonly alongside perfusion to evaluate for large vessel occlusion and vascular anatomy.
`70551`	MRI brain without contrast	Alternative advanced imaging for some stroke patients when MRI is feasible; may be performed before or after CT perfusion.
`0112U`	Quantitative perfusion interpretation (proprietary software)	Advanced post-processing/quantitative tools that may be used in conjunction with perfusion studies; billed when applicable.
`92980`	Thrombectomy, mechanical (percutaneous transluminal)	Therapeutic procedure performed when perfusion and angiographic findings support endovascular reperfusion.

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Summary & Overview