Summary & Overview
CPT 73720: MRI of Lower Extremity, Non-Joint, Without and With Contrast
CPT code 73720 describes a diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of a lower extremity performed first without contrast and then with contrast to obtain additional sequences. This code captures advanced soft tissue and vascular imaging for portions of the lower limb outside a joint and is commonly used in outpatient imaging centers and hospital radiology departments. Nationally, accurate coding of 73720 matters for clinical documentation, imaging utilization monitoring, and alignment of imaging protocols with payer coverage policies.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and typical sites of service, common modifiers and billing considerations, and context for related imaging services. The publication highlights how 73720 is used clinically to evaluate soft tissue, vascular, and other non-articular lower extremity pathology and outlines the types of benchmarks and policy topics readers can expect, including utilization patterns, reimbursement considerations, and documentation requirements.
Data not available in the input for specific ICD-10 pairings, associated taxonomies, and payer-specific coverage details.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 73720 represents a diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure of a lower extremity performed for regions other than a joint. The study is performed first without contrast material and then repeated after injection of contrast material to obtain additional sequences.
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Service type: Diagnostic imaging (MRI of lower extremity, non-joint, with and without contrast)
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Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging centers or hospital radiology departments
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old male presents to an outpatient imaging center with progressive right calf pain, intermittent swelling, and a history of prior lower-extremity trauma. Initial evaluation by the referring orthopedic surgeon included a focused history and physical exam and plain radiographs that were nondiagnostic. The provider orders an MRI of the lower extremity (other than a joint) with and without contrast to evaluate suspected soft-tissue mass versus post-traumatic vascular malformation and to assess surrounding muscle, neurovascular structures, and occult bone marrow pathology. The clinical workflow includes preauthorization as required by the patient’s payor, screening for MRI safety (implants, pacemakers, renal function for gadolinium use), performance of non-contrast sequences, administration of intravenous gadolinium-based contrast, acquisition of post-contrast sequences, technologist quality checks, radiologist interpretation, and generation of a final report. Typical sites of service are outpatient hospital-based imaging departments or independent freestanding imaging centers. The service type is a diagnostic MRI of the lower extremity performed without and then with contrast (73720).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the interpreting physician's service separate from the facility technical component. |