CPT 73700 CT Lower Extremity Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 73700: CT Scan of Lower Extremity, Non-Contrast

CPT code 73700 represents a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the lower extremity used to diagnose fractures and other lower limb pathologies. As a common diagnostic imaging study, this code matters nationally because it supports acute trauma evaluation, preoperative planning, and assessment of musculoskeletal disease—procedures that drive imaging utilization across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication summarizes coverage and billing considerations for these major payers, presents typical utilization benchmarks where available, and outlines the clinical contexts in which 73700 is commonly reported.

Readers will learn the clinical scope of the service, the typical sites of service where 73700 is performed, common billing modifiers associated with CT imaging (listed elsewhere in the full publication), and how 73700 fits into the broader diagnostic imaging workflow. The report also highlights common companion and follow-up imaging scenarios and notes where additional contrast-enhanced or advanced CT studies may be billed instead. Data not available in the input are identified where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare73700CPTComputed TomographyLower ExtremityDiagnostic ImagingRadiologyNon-Contrast CTMusculoskeletal

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 73700 describes a computed tomography (CT) scan of the lower extremity performed without contrast. The procedure is used to evaluate fracture, trauma, degenerative disease, infection, or other structural abnormalities of the lower limb.

Service Type: Diagnostic imaging – CT, non-contrast, lower extremity

Typical Site of Service: Outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology department, or ambulatory surgical center

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department after an athletic injury with acute right lower leg pain, swelling, and inability to bear weight. Physical exam raises concern for a tibial or fibular fracture and possible joint involvement. The emergency physician orders a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the lower extremity to evaluate complex fractures, assess fracture displacement, and plan orthopedic management when plain radiographs are inconclusive or when detailed bony anatomy is required for surgical planning. The patient is transported to the radiology department; CT technologists confirm identity and lateral side (RT or LT) markers, perform the non-contrast CT acquisition of the lower extremity per protocol, and the radiologist interprets images and issues a report documenting fracture type, location, comminution, and any intra-articular extension. Results are communicated to the orthopedic surgeon for definitive management.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`LT`	Left side	When the scan is of the left lower extremity

CPT 73503: Unilateral Hip X‑ray, Minimum Four Projections

CPT-73600-ANKLE-XRAY-TWO-VIEWS

CPT 73600: Ankle X‑ray, Two Views

CPT-73523-BILATERAL-HIP-X-RAYS-MULTI-VIEW

CPT 73523: Bilateral Hip X-Rays, Multi-View

CPT-73719-MRI-LOWER-EXTREMITY-WITH-CONTRAST-NON-JOINT

CPT 73719: MRI of Lower Extremity (Non-Joint) With Contrast

CPT-73521-BILATERAL-HIP-X-RAY-TWO-VIEWS

CPT 73521: Bilateral Hip X‑Ray, Two Views Each

CPT-73725-LOWER-EXTREMITY-MRA-ARTERIAL-EVALUATION

CPT 73725: Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Lower Extremity, With/Without Contrast

CPT-73502-HIP-XRAY-TWO-THREE-PROJECTIONS

CPT 73502: Hip X‑ray, Two or Three Projections

CPT-73706-LOWER-EXTREMITY-CT-ANGIOGRAPHY

CPT 73706: Lower Extremity Computed Tomography Angiography

CPT-73630-FOOT-RADIOGRAPHY-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 73630: Foot Radiography, Minimum Three Views

CPT-73562-THREE-VIEW-KNEE-RADIOGRAPHS

CPT 73562: Three-View Radiographic Examination of the Knee

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`2080P0200X`	Radiology	Diagnostic imaging, interpretation and reporting of CT lower extremity
`207L00000X`	Emergency Medicine	ED providers ordering and coordinating urgent imaging
`207K00000X`	Orthopedic Surgery	Orthopedic surgeons who use CT for fracture planning
`363A00000X`	Diagnostic Radiology Technician	Technologists performing the CT acquisition
`207X00000X`	Family Medicine	Primary care providers who may order imaging in outpatient trauma follow-up

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S82.201A`	Unspecified fracture of shaft of tibia, right leg, initial encounter for closed fracture	Common indication for CT to evaluate fracture pattern and displacement
`S82.101A`	Fracture of lateral malleolus of right fibula, initial encounter for closed fracture	CT used when radiographs are inconclusive or for surgical planning
`S82.301A`	Fracture of both tibia and fibula, right leg, initial encounter for closed fracture	Complex fractures often require CT for preoperative mapping
`S82.001A`	Fracture of medial malleolus of right tibia, initial encounter for closed fracture	Intra-articular extension assessed with CT
`M84.372A`	Pathological fracture, right lower leg, initial encounter	CT used to evaluate lesion causing pathological fracture
`S89.811A`	Unspecified injury of lower leg, right leg, initial encounter	When mechanism unclear and CT helps define bony injury
`S89.012A`	Open wound of lower leg, right leg, initial encounter	CT may be used to assess associated fractures in traumatic wounds

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`73610`	Radiologic examination, ankle; 2 views	Plain radiographs commonly obtained first-line before non-contrast CT
`73590`	Radiologic examination, tibia and fibula; 2 views	Initial x-rays for suspected lower leg fracture prior to CT
`73700`	CT, lower extremity, without contrast material	Primary procedure for detailed bony assessment
`73702`	CT, lower extremity, with contrast material(s)	Performed when vascular injury or infection concerns require contrast
`72192`	CT, pelvic bones and hip, without contrast	Performed when suspected proximal extension of injury requires pelvic imaging

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