CPT 73718 MRI Lower Extremity Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 73718: MRI Lower Extremity (Non-Joint), Non-Contrast

CPT code 73718 denotes a non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of a lower extremity region excluding a joint. This imaging code is used nationally for evaluation of soft tissue, muscular, neurovascular, and other non-articular pathology of the leg or thigh when contrast enhancement is not administered. Accurate coding of 73718 matters for clinical documentation, utilization tracking, and appropriate payer adjudication across outpatient imaging centers and hospital outpatient departments.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for non-contrast lower extremity MRI, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations tied to this code. The publication summarizes benchmarking and utilization patterns where available, highlights relevant policy updates affecting imaging authorization and coverage nationally, and clarifies how 73718 is distinguished from joint-specific MRI codes and contrast-enhanced studies. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare73718CPTMRIlower extremitydiagnostic imagingnon-contrastoutpatient imagingradiology coding

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 73718 describes a diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the lower extremity other than a joint, without contrast. The service involves acquisition and interpretation of MR images focused on non-joint anatomic structures of a lower extremity (for example, muscles, tendons, neurovascular structures, and soft tissues) using standard non-contrast MRI techniques.

Service type: Diagnostic MRI, non-contrast, lower extremity (excluding joint)

Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulatory surgery centers

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 42-year-old ambulatory adult presenting to an outpatient imaging center with progressive anterior lower leg pain and intermittent swelling after an acute sports-related twisting injury. The referring orthopedist documents focal deep calf tenderness, suspected muscle tear or proximal tibial stress reaction, and orders a non-contrast MRI of the lower extremity other than a joint to evaluate soft tissue and bone marrow pathology. The patient checks in at the outpatient radiology facility, completes screening for MRI safety, changes into gowning, and undergoes the 73718 study (MRI lower extremity other than a joint, without contrast). A technologist positions the affected limb in the scanner, acquires multiplanar sequences, and transmits images to the radiologist. The radiologist interprets soft-tissue, tendon, muscle, and bone findings and issues a final report to the referring provider. Typical site of service is an outpatient imaging center or hospital outpatient radiology department. Service type: diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging study of a lower extremity (non-joint), without intravenous contrast.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician interpretation portion of the MRI study separate from technical services.

CPT 73522: Bilateral Hip X‑Rays, Multiple Projections

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

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

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

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

CPT-73615-ANKLE-ARTHROGRAPHY-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

CPT 73615: Ankle Arthrography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-73701-CT-LOWER-EXTREMITY-WITH-CONTRAST

CPT 73701: CT Scan of Lower Extremity with Contrast

CPT-73565-STANDING-KNEE-WEIGHT-BEARING-XRAY

CPT 73565: Standing Weight-Bearing Knee Radiographs

CPT-73580-KNEE-ARTHROGRAPHY-IMAGING-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 73580: Knee Arthrography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-73562-THREE-VIEW-KNEE-RADIOGRAPHS

CPT 73562: Three-View Radiographic Examination of the Knee

73721-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-EG-PROTON-IMAGING-ANY-JOINT-OF-LOWER

CPT 73721: MRI of Lower Extremity Joint, without Contrast

CPT-73630-FOOT-RADIOGRAPHY-THREE-VIEWS

CPT 73630: Foot Radiography, Minimum Three Views

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`208000000X`	Diagnostic Radiology	Radiologists commonly interpret MRI lower extremity studies.
`2084P0800X`	Orthopedic Surgery	Orthopedic surgeons commonly order and coordinate imaging for lower extremity soft tissue and bone injuries.
`207K00000X`	Sports Medicine	Sports medicine physicians frequently evaluate athletes and refer for non-contrast MRI of lower extremities.
`261QM0800X`	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	PM&R specialists may order MRI for muscle and soft-tissue pathology affecting limb function.
`207L00000X`	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may initiate MRI evaluation for acute non-joint limb injuries in appropriate settings.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M60.9`	Myositis, unspecified	Non-contrast MRI evaluates muscle edema and inflammation when myositis is suspected in the lower extremity.
`S86.011A`	Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of right calf, initial encounter	MRI can assess the extent of calf muscle or tendon strain and identify tears.
`M79.601`	Pain in right leg, unspecified	MRI used to evaluate unexplained lower extremity pain when clinical exam is nondiagnostic.
`M84.371A`	Stress fracture, right tibia, initial encounter for fracture	MRI detects bone stress reactions and occult fractures not visible on radiographs.
`I83.90`	Varicose veins of lower extremity without ulcer or inflammation	MRI may be used to evaluate soft-tissue complications or to plan further vascular imaging when symptoms overlap with musculoskeletal causes.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`73718`	Magnetic resonance (e.g., proton) imaging, any joint of lower extremity, other than joint, without contrast	Primary procedure: non-contrast MRI of lower extremity soft tissue and bone (non-joint study).
`73721`	Magnetic resonance imaging, any joint of lower extremity, with contrast	Alternative/adjunct when intravenous contrast is required for lesion characterization following the non-contrast study.
`73719`	Magnetic resonance imaging, lower extremity other than a joint, with contrast and without contrast (both)	Related when both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced sequences are performed during the same session.
`73221`	Magnetic resonance imaging, any joint of upper extremity, without contrast	Analogous upper-extremity MRI code; relevant when bilateral or contralateral limb imaging is performed but different anatomic region.
`77046`	Magnetic resonance guidance for biopsy, any site	Related when MRI findings prompt image-guided biopsy of a soft-tissue or bone lesion identified on `73718`.
`72195`	MRI pelvis without contrast	Related when extension of imaging to pelvis is clinically indicated to evaluate proximal pathology or vascular causes.

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