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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging) Procedures of the Gastrointestinal TractCPT cpt-74290-hepatobiliary-fluoroscopic-oral-cholecystography
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    CPT 74290: Oral Cholecystography with Fluoroscopic Evaluation

    Medicare pays $56 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 74290 describes an oral cholecystography procedure in which the provider uses fluoroscopic X‑ray imaging to visualize the gallbladder and its contents after the patient follows a special diet and ingests iodine‑based oral contrast; the service is a diagnostic radiology study of the liver and gallbladder typically performed in a radiology department or outpatient imaging center to evaluate for gallstones, cholecystitis, biliary tract abnormalities, or tumors.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant Testing.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 45– to 70–year‑old adult referred for evaluation of suspected gallbladder disease after presenting with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, episodic biliary colic, nausea, or abnormal liver function tests. The ordering provider (usually a primary care physician, gastroenterologist, or general surgeon) requests a gallbladder fluoroscopic study to visualize gallbladder filling and emptying after the patient follows a pretest low‑fat diet and ingests oral iodine‑based contrast. The radiology department schedules the patient, confirms informed consent and allergy history (iodine/shellfish), and instructs on fasting and contrast ingestion timing. At the imaging visit a radiology technologist and radiologist perform the fluoroscopic exam using serial X‑ray imaging to assess gallbladder morphology, filling defects (stones), cystic duct patency, and biliary dynamics. Findings guide clinical management such as conservative therapy, cholecystectomy referral, or further biliary imaging (ultrasound, HIDA, MRCP) and are documented in the radiology report along with contrast used, patient tolerance, and any immediate complications.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    74290Radiologic examination, biliary system, including fluoroscopy, after oral or enteric contrast (oral cholecystography)Primary procedure described; visualizes gallbladder filling and identifies stones or tumors.
    76700Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited (e.g., single organ, gallbladder)Often performed before or instead of oral cholecystography to evaluate gallstones and biliary pathology.
    78226Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HIDA)Alternative functional study to assess cystic duct obstruction and gallbladder ejection fraction when fluoroscopic results are equivocal.
    74177CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast, diagnosticMay be ordered for evaluation of suspected complications, mass lesions, or when ultrasound/fluoroscopy are inconclusive.
    47562Laparoscopy, cholecystectomy with cholangiographySurgical procedure that may follow diagnostic confirmation of gallstones or biliary obstruction identified on fluoroscopy.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    207RC0000XCardiovascular Disease PhysicianAn internist who specializes in diseases of the heart and blood vessels and manages complex cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and life-threaten…
    207T00000XNeurological Surgery PhysicianA neurological surgeon provides the operative and non-operative management (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and reh…
    227800000XCertified Respiratory TherapistA Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is a an entry level therapist who has passed a standardized written examination administered by the National B…
    3140N1450XPediatric Skilled Nursing FacilityA nursing care facility designed and staffed for the provision of nursing care and appropriate educational and habilitative/rehabilitative services to…
    213ES0131XFoot Surgery PodiatristPodiatric Medicine & Surgery Service Providers · Podiatrist
    1223X2210XOrofacial Pain DentistryA dentist who assesses, diagnoses, and treats patients with complex chronic orofacial pain and dysfunction disorders, oromotor and jaw behavior disord…
    2865M2000XMilitary General Acute Care HospitalA Department of Defense (DoD) health care organization furnishing inpatient care 24 hours per day in "fixed" facilities, primarily for DoD beneficiari…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B18.2Chronic viral hepatitis C
    C23Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder
    C24.9Malignant neoplasm of biliary tract, unspecified
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    I85.01Esophageal varices with bleeding
    K29.70Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding
    K31.89Other diseases of stomach and duodenum
    K72.90Hepatic failure, unspecified without coma
    K74.60Unspecified cirrhosis of liver
    K74.69Other cirrhosis of liver

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    7 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Celiac Disease TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-74210-PHARYNX-CERVICAL-ESOPHAGUS-CONTRAST-STUDY

    CPT 74210: Radiologic Exam of Pharynx and Cervical Esophagus with Contrast

    CPT-74220-ESOPHAGRAM-FLUOROSCOPIC-BARIUM-SWALLOW

    CPT 74220: Fluoroscopic Esophagram (Barium Swallow)

    CPT-74221-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-ESOPHAGRAM-BARIUM-EFFERVESCENT

    CPT 74221: Double-Contrast Esophagram with Barium and Effervescent Agent

    CPT-74230-VIDEOFLUOROSCOPIC-SWALLOW-STUDY

    CPT 74230: Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study

    CPT-74235-ESOPHAGEAL-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

    CPT 74235: Imaging Supervision for Esophageal Foreign Body Removal

    CPT-74240-UPPER-GASTROINTESTINAL-SERIES-BARIUM-CONTRAST

    CPT 74240: Upper Gastrointestinal Barium Contrast Study

    CPT-74246-UPPER-GI-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-FLUOROSCOPY

    CPT 74246: Upper GI Series with Air and High-Density Barium

    CPT-74248-SMALL-INTESTINE-FOLLOW-THROUGH-AFTER-UPPER-GASTROINTESTINAL-STUDY

    CPT 74248: Small Intestine Follow-Through, Multiple Series

    CPT-74250-SMALL-BOWEL-SINGLE-CONTRAST-BARIUM-STUDY

    CPT 74250: Small Bowel Single‑Contrast Barium Study

    CPT-74251-SMALL-BOWEL-DOUBLE-CONTRAST-ENTERIC-RADIOGRAPHY

    CPT 74251: Small Bowel Double-Contrast Enteroclysis

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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