Summary & Overview
CPT 70480: CT of Orbit, Sella/Posterior Fossa, or Ear, Non-Contrast
CPT code 70480 represents a non-contrast CT examination of the orbit, sella or posterior fossa, or the external/middle/inner ear. This diagnostic radiology code is commonly used for acute and chronic evaluations of orbital trauma, suspected intracranial or sellar pathology affecting vision or cranial nerves, and detailed temporal bone or middle/inner ear assessment when contrast is not required. Nationally, non-contrast CT studies are integral to emergency, outpatient, and subspecialty workflows because they provide rapid, high-resolution anatomic detail without the need for intravenous contrast.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical indications and typical sites of service, plus interpretation of common billing patterns and reporting expectations for this service line. The content outlines how 70480 is used in practice, typical clinical contexts where non-contrast imaging is preferred, and the operational settings where the service is delivered. Where specific payer policy or benchmark data are not present in the input, the report notes that Data not available in the input. This summary is intended to inform billing staff, radiology administrators, and policy analysts about the clinical purpose and administrative framing of CPT code 70480 at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 70480 describes a computed tomography (CT) examination of the orbit, sella/posterior fossa, or ear without contrast. The procedure uses CT imaging to evaluate the eye’s orbit, the sella turcica or posterior fossa of the skull, or the outer, middle, or inner ear, and the provider does not administer intravenous contrast for this exam.
Service type: Diagnostic imaging — non-contrast CT of orbital, sellar/posterior fossa, or ear structures.
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging center, free-standing radiology/imaging center, or ambulatory surgical center for diagnostic imaging.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45-year-old adult presenting to the emergency department with acute periorbital trauma after a motor vehicle collision. The patient reports periorbital swelling, decreased ocular motility, and diplopia. An emergency medicine clinician requests imaging to evaluate for orbital fractures and retrobulbar hemorrhage. The clinical workflow: triage and primary survey, focused ophthalmologic and neurologic exam, order placed for a non‑contrast CT of the orbits and facial bones (70480 for orbit-focused CT without contrast). The patient is transported to radiology where a CT technologist performs the noncontrast axial and coronal thin‑section orbital protocol. Images are interpreted by a radiologist who documents findings such as orbital floor fracture, globe integrity, or soft‑tissue emphysema. Results are communicated to the ED clinician and, if needed, to ophthalmology or otolaryngology for subspecialty management. Typical site of service is hospital outpatient radiology or hospital emergency department radiology suite. Service type is diagnostic radiology — computed tomography of the orbit/sella/posterior fossa/ear without contrast.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the interpreting physician's professional component for the CT study |