Summary & Overview
CPT 73580: Knee Arthrography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation
CPT code 73580 represents imaging supervision and interpretation for knee arthrography performed with intra‑articular contrast and serial X‑ray imaging. Nationally, this code captures the professional component of diagnostic fluoroscopic evaluation of knee joint structures and is important for ensuring accurate reporting of radiology services separate from technical imaging or injection procedures. Proper use supports clinical documentation, billing clarity, and reimbursement alignment for radiologists and imaging centers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of how the code is defined, typical clinical indications for knee arthrography, and the usual site of service. The publication outlines benchmark considerations and common billing practices related to reporting the supervision and interpretation component, summarizes relevant policy themes that affect payment and documentation, and provides clinical context about when knee arthrography is used for evaluation of meniscal, ligamentous, and cartilaginous pathology. Data not available in the input are clearly noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 73580 describes imaging supervision and interpretation of a knee joint study with intra-articular contrast injection. The procedure involves the provider injecting contrast material into the knee joint and acquiring a series of X‑ray images as the contrast flows through the joint to evaluate joint structures. This code represents only the imaging supervision and interpretation component of the procedure.
Service type: Diagnostic imaging — fluoroscopic knee arthrography with contrast
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory imaging center (radiology suite)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old outpatient presents with chronic right knee pain, intermittent swelling, and mechanical symptoms after prior meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. The orthopedic surgeon orders a knee arthrogram with fluoroscopic guidance to evaluate the integrity of the joint capsule, evaluate for intra-articular loose bodies, and to assess cartilage and meniscal status when MRI is inconclusive or contraindicated. The clinical workflow: patient arrives to the outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology department; informed consent and allergy/screening review are completed; sterile preparation of the knee and local anesthesia are performed by the proceduralist; contrast material is injected into the knee joint under fluoroscopic visualization; a series of fluoroscopic images are obtained as contrast outlines joint structures; the supervising physician performs real-time supervision, documents the injection technique, volumes and type of contrast, interprets the images, and generates a signed radiology report. Billing for imaging supervision and interpretation only is reported with 73580 when the facility or technologist provides the technical component and the physician bills for professional interpretation and supervision.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation/supervision for the arthrogram while the facility bills the technical component. |