Summary & Overview
CPT 70482: CT of Orbit, Sella/Posterior Fossa, or Ear With and Without Contrast
CPT code 70482 denotes a CT scan of the eye orbit, the sella or posterior fossa of the skull, or the outer/middle/inner ear performed with and without intravenous contrast. This dual-phase approach—noncontrast imaging followed by contrast-enhanced imaging—is clinically important for characterizing lesions, assessing trauma, and guiding surgical or medical management. Nationally, accurate coding and appropriate site placement affect clinical workflows, imaging utilization patterns, and payer coverage determinations.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication summarizes coding intent, clinical contexts in which 70482 is commonly used (trauma, infection, neoplasm evaluation, and preoperative planning), and the typical settings of service such as hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory imaging centers, and emergency departments.
Readers will find benchmark guidance on how 70482 fits among related CT head and skull base codes, summaries of common payer coverage considerations, and a clinical context section that clarifies when combined noncontrast and contrast imaging is clinically indicated. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable. The content is designed for providers, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a concise, national-level reference on CPT code 70482.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 70482 describes a computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit, sella or posterior fossa of the skull, or the outer, middle, or inner ear performed with and without contrast. The procedure begins with acquisition of noncontrast images followed by administration of intravenous contrast and acquisition of contrast-enhanced images.
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Service type: Diagnostic imaging — CT of orbital, sellar/posterior fossa, or otic structures
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory imaging center, hospital outpatient radiology department, or emergency department imaging suite
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with acute periorbital pain, diplopia, and swelling after blunt facial trauma. The emergency physician orders a contrast-enhanced CT of the orbits to evaluate for orbital fracture, retrobulbar hemorrhage, and globe or extraocular muscle injury. The CT technologist first acquires axial thin-slice images of the orbits without intravenous contrast to identify air, acute hemorrhage, and bony detail. The radiology team then administers iodinated IV contrast and acquires repeat axial and coronal images to assess vascular injury, optic nerve enhancement, and inflammatory or neoplastic processes. The radiologist interprets both noncontrast and contrast-enhanced phases, documents findings, and provides urgent recommendations if acute surgical pathology is identified. Typical site of service is the hospital radiology department or outpatient imaging center equipped for CT with IV contrast and emergent clinical support.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician interpretation/report separate from technical component |
TC | Technical component | When reporting only the facility/technical portion of the exam |