Summary & Overview
CPT 70487: CT Maxillofacial/Face with Contrast
CPT code 70487 designates a computed tomography (CT) scan of the maxillofacial region performed with contrast. This study evaluates the upper jaw and facial structures, providing high-resolution imaging of both bony anatomy and soft tissue. Nationally, CT imaging of the face with contrast is commonly used for trauma assessment, infection, neoplasm evaluation, surgical planning, and complex dental or maxillofacial pathology, making this code relevant across emergency, outpatient, and specialty care settings.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview, payer coverage context, common modifier usage, and benchmarking elements where available. The publication outlines the clinical indications associated with this service line, typical sites of service, and operational considerations for ordering and performing contrast-enhanced maxillofacial CT.
The content is structured to inform coding staff, radiology administrators, and policy analysts about the code's clinical application, payer landscape, and areas where coverage and documentation typically matter. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 70487 describes a computed tomography (CT) examination of the maxillofacial region with the use of intravenous contrast. The procedure focuses on imaging of the upper jaw and facial structures, capturing detailed cross-sectional images to evaluate bony and soft-tissue anatomy.
Service type: Diagnostic imaging — CT scan of the maxillofacial/face region with contrast
Typical site of service: Outpatient radiology department, hospital imaging center, or ambulatory imaging center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult who presents to the emergency department or outpatient imaging center with facial trauma, suspected orbital fracture, severe sinus disease complicated by concern for extension, or preoperative planning needs for maxillofacial surgery. The ordering clinician (emergency physician, otolaryngologist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or plastic surgeon) requests a contrast-enhanced maxillofacial CT to better delineate soft tissue injury, detect vascular injury or active bleeding, evaluate deep space infections or abscess, and assess tumor extent when contrast enhancement will change management.
The clinical workflow begins with triage and evaluation by the ordering provider who documents the indication and relevant history. The patient is screened for contrast allergies and renal function; informed consent for IV contrast is obtained when required. The radiology department performs IV access placement, administers iodinated contrast, and acquires thin-slice axial and multiplanar reformats of the maxillofacial structures. A radiologist interprets the study, issues a finalized report, and communicates critical findings to the ordering provider for immediate management decisions such as surgical intervention, angiography, or antibiotic therapy. Typical sites of service include the hospital radiology department (inpatient or emergency), outpatient imaging centers, and ambulatory surgery centers when preoperative imaging is required.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 |