CPT code 71260 denotes a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination of the thorax. It is a commonly used diagnostic imaging study for evaluating pulmonary disease, mediastinal pathology, thoracic vascular conditions, trauma, and preoperative assessment. Nationally, this code is significant because it drives utilization in radiology and hospital outpatient services and factors into imaging quality, utilization management, and payer coverage policies.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for contrast-enhanced thoracic CT, typical sites of service, and commonly associated billing workflows. The publication also summarizes payer coverage patterns, coding and billing considerations, and benchmarks where available. Where input data are incomplete, the report notes those gaps as "Data not available in the input." The content is intended to inform revenue-cycle managers, radiology administrators, and policy analysts about the code's clinical role, payer interactions, and operational considerations at a national level.