Summary & Overview
CPT 75801: Supervision and Interpretation of Lymphatic Imaging, Single Extremity
CPT code 75801 represents physician supervision and interpretation of radiologic imaging of the lymphatic system for a single extremity (left or right, upper or lower). This code captures a focused diagnostic service used when lymphatic imaging is required to evaluate lymphedema, obstruction, or other lymphatic disorders affecting one limb. Nationally, accurate reporting of this code supports appropriate clinical documentation and aligns reimbursement with the scope of the interpreted imaging study.
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 75801 is defined, typical sites of service where the procedure occurs, and common billing contexts in which the code is used. The publication outlines benchmarks for utilization, notes relevant payer coverage patterns, and summarizes policy considerations that affect clinical and administrative teams.
The content helps clinicians, radiology departments, and billing professionals understand when to report CPT code 75801, what to expect from payer coverage at a national level, and where to look for documentation and coding guidance. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 75801 describes the supervision and interpretation of radiologic imaging of the lymphatic system for a single extremity (left or right, upper or lower). This service involves a physician or qualified healthcare provider overseeing the imaging procedure and providing the official diagnostic interpretation of lymphatic imaging focused on one extremity.
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Service type: Radiologic supervision and interpretation
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Typical site of service: Imaging center, hospital radiology department, or outpatient clinic providing diagnostic lymphangiography for a single extremity
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old woman presents with progressive unilateral swelling of the right lower extremity following pelvic lymph node dissection for endometrial cancer. Conservative measures (compression, elevation, physiotherapy) provided incomplete relief. The vascular surgery team requests diagnostic lymphangiography of the affected limb to characterize lymphatic obstruction and guide potential interventional therapy. In the radiology suite, the patient is positioned for injection of a radiopaque contrast agent into web-space lymphatics of the right foot. The procedure includes fluoroscopic imaging to visualize lymphatic channels and nodes of only one extremity (right lower). The interpreting provider performs supervision and interpretation of the study, documents findings (site and extent of lymphatic obstruction, dermal backflow, collateral channels), and issues a formal report with recommendations for lymphaticovenous anastomosis candidacy or targeted interventional therapy. Typical site of service is an outpatient radiology department, hospital radiology suite, or ambulatory surgical center. The service is billed when imaging and interpretation are limited to a single extremity (left or right, upper or lower) per 75801 description.
Coding Specifications
- Modifier selection focuses on the most relevant for single-extremity lymphatic imaging supervision and interpretation.
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 |