Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 76098: Intraoperative Specimen Imaging and Interpretation

CPT code 76098 covers intraoperative specimen imaging and immediate interpretation by a radiologist to confirm removal of a lesion, commonly applied to procedures such as breast biopsy excision. Nationally, this code supports real-time surgical decision-making that can reduce the need for return trips to the operating room and improve completeness of excision. The code is relevant across hospital-based surgical settings where imaging support is available.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for 76098, typical sites of service, and the operational role of the radiologist during surgery. The publication summarizes coverage and billing considerations, common modifiers and payers included in the input, and operational implications for surgical and radiology teams.

The piece provides benchmarks and policy context where available and highlights areas with limited public data. It is intended for clinicians, billing professionals, and policy stakeholders seeking a clear national summary of the code's purpose, payer landscape, and practice implications for intraoperative specimen imaging.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 76098 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 76098 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 76098 describes intraoperative specimen imaging performed by a radiologist on a tissue specimen immediately after surgical removal to confirm excision of the targeted lesion. The radiologist obtains images of the specimen, interprets them, and communicates findings to the surgeon before the surgeon completes the procedure so additional tissue can be removed if needed.

Service type: Intraoperative radiologic specimen imaging and interpretation
Typical site of service: Operating room or procedure suite at the time of surgery

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.

Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 76098: Intraoperative Specimen Imaging and Interpretation

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 76098 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 76098 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

Service type: Intraoperative radiologic specimen imaging and interpretation
Typical site of service: Operating room or procedure suite at the time of surgery

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 56-year-old woman undergoes an image-guided breast lumpectomy for a suspicious lesion identified on mammography and ultrasound. During the operative procedure in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room, the surgeon excises the targeted tissue and hands the fresh specimen to the radiology team. The radiologist immediately performs specimen imaging (typically specimen radiography) in a nearby radiology suite or portable intraoperative unit to confirm that the lesion and any radiopaque markers or localized clips are included and that margins appear adequately sampled. The radiologist interprets the images and verbally reports results to the surgeon while the patient remains under anesthesia so the surgeon can perform additional excision if necessary. Typical workflow participants include the operating surgeon (breast surgeon or general surgeon), the radiologist (diagnostic radiologist or breast imaging specialist), pathology for subsequent histologic margin assessment, perioperative nursing, and technologists. The typical site of service is an operating room or ambulatory surgery center with immediate access to radiographic imaging; the procedure is coded when the radiologist documents intraoperative specimen imaging and communicates findings to the surgeon prior to completion of the operative procedure.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing solely the radiologist's interpretation component separate from technical facility charges.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing the facility or technical component for specimen imaging equipment and technologist services.
`QK`	Medical direction of 2–4 ancillary personnel	Use when radiologist provides medical direction per anesthesia/assisting personnel rules if applicable to staffing.
`QX`	Certified registered nurse anesthetist service (CRNA)	Rarely used directly with this radiology service; included when billing in combination with anesthesia CRNA services per payer rules.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when specimen imaging is a distinct service from other imaging performed during the same operative session and payer requires separation.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when specimen imaging is repeated during the same operative session by the same radiologist.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when a different radiologist repeats specimen imaging during the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when specimen imaging is partially completed or limited compared to the full service.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if specimen imaging was begun but discontinued for patient safety or technical reasons.
`RT`	Right side	Use to identify laterality when specimen imaging is performed on a unilateral right breast specimen and payer requires laterality coding.
`LT`	Left side	Use to identify laterality when specimen imaging is performed on a unilateral left breast specimen and payer requires laterality coding.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when bilateral specimens are imaged in the same session and payer recognizes a bilateral modifier.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons are involved and payer rules require designation of co-surgery; may affect global billing but not the radiologist's imaging code directly.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when documentation justifies substantially greater work, time, or complexity for specimen imaging and payer allows the modifier.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when a repeat specimen image is required during the same operative session by the same radiologist.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	General Surgery	Breast surgeons perform the excision and coordinate intraoperative imaging.
207RC0000X	Radiology — Diagnostic	Diagnostic radiologists or breast imagers perform and interpret specimen radiographs.
207L00000X	Pathology	Pathologists evaluate permanent margins after imaging-confirmed excision.
2084P0800X	Radiology — Interventional	Interventional radiologists may perform localized lesion localization and specimen imaging in some centers.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D05.10`	Lobular carcinoma in situ of breast, unspecified breast	Localization and excision of suspicious lesions may prompt specimen imaging to confirm lesion removal.
`D05.90`	Unspecified carcinoma in situ of breast	CIS lesions identified on imaging or biopsy often lead to surgical excision with specimen radiography.
`C50.911`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast	Malignant breast lesions are commonly excised and the specimen imaged to confirm removal of the target.
`C50.912`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast	Same clinical relevance for left-sided malignant lesions.
`N60.11`	Solitary cyst of right breast	Benign but imaging-detected lesions that are excised may still be imaged intraoperatively to confirm removal.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`19125`	Excision of breast lesion identified by preoperative placement of radiological marker, open; single lesion	Typical surgical procedure that yields the specimen imaged with `76098`.
`19081`	Biopsy, breast, with placement of localization device (radiological marker) when performed (eg, preoperative needle localization)	Often performed preoperatively to localize nonpalpable lesions that are then excised and sent for specimen imaging.
`77065`	Diagnostic mammography, including CAD when performed; unilateral	Preoperative diagnostic mammography that may detect the lesion and guide surgery; not billed at time of intraoperative specimen imaging but part of the imaging workflow.
`76942`	Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration)	Ultrasound guidance used for preoperative biopsy or localization that precedes surgical excision and specimen radiography.
`88305`	Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination	Pathology processing and interpretation of the excised specimen after intraoperative imaging confirms lesion removal.

CPT 76000: Fluoroscopy, Up to One Hour of Real-Time Imaging

CPT-76010-PEDIATRIC-GI-FOREIGN-BODY-SINGLE-IMAGE

CPT 76010: Pediatric GI Foreign Body Single Radiographic Image

CPT-76017-MR-SAFETY-MEDICAL-PHYSICS-EVALUATION-IMPLANTS

CPT 76017: MR Safety Medical Physics Evaluation for Implants

CPT-76018-MR-DEVICE-PROGRAMMING-AND-PREPARATION

CPT 76018: MR Device Programming and Preparation

CPT-76019-MR-IMPLANT-POSITIONING-AND-SAFETY-SUPERVISION

CPT 76019: MR Implant Positioning and Safety Supervision

CPT-76080-ABSCESS-FISTULA-SINUS-TRACT-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

CPT 76080: Supervision and Interpretation of Abscess, Fistula, or Sinus Tract Imaging

CPT-76100-SINGLE-PLANE-TOMOGRAPHIC-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 76100: Single‑Plane Tomographic Radiography

CPT-76120-MOTION-XRAY-RECORDING-DYNAMIC-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 76120: Motion X‑ray Recording of Physiologic Movement

CPT-76125-MOTION-RADIOGRAPHY-CYCLE-MOVEMENT

CPT 76125: Motion Radiography of a Cycle of Movement

CPT-76140-REMOTE-XRAY-REVIEW-WRITTEN-CONSULT-REPORT

CPT 76140: Review of External X‑ray with Written Consultation Report

Showing 1–10 of 20

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing solely the radiologist's interpretation component separate from technical facility charges.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing the facility or technical component for specimen imaging equipment and technologist services.
`QK`	Medical direction of 2–4 ancillary personnel	Use when radiologist provides medical direction per anesthesia/assisting personnel rules if applicable to staffing.
`QX`	Certified registered nurse anesthetist service (CRNA)	Rarely used directly with this radiology service; included when billing in combination with anesthesia CRNA services per payer rules.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when specimen imaging is a distinct service from other imaging performed during the same operative session and payer requires separation.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when specimen imaging is repeated during the same operative session by the same radiologist.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when a different radiologist repeats specimen imaging during the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when specimen imaging is partially completed or limited compared to the full service.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use if specimen imaging was begun but discontinued for patient safety or technical reasons.
`RT`	Right side	Use to identify laterality when specimen imaging is performed on a unilateral right breast specimen and payer requires laterality coding.
`LT`	Left side	Use to identify laterality when specimen imaging is performed on a unilateral left breast specimen and payer requires laterality coding.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when bilateral specimens are imaged in the same session and payer recognizes a bilateral modifier.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons are involved and payer rules require designation of co-surgery; may affect global billing but not the radiologist's imaging code directly.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when documentation justifies substantially greater work, time, or complexity for specimen imaging and payer allows the modifier.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when a repeat specimen image is required during the same operative session by the same radiologist.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	General Surgery	Breast surgeons perform the excision and coordinate intraoperative imaging.
207RC0000X	Radiology — Diagnostic	Diagnostic radiologists or breast imagers perform and interpret specimen radiographs.
207L00000X	Pathology	Pathologists evaluate permanent margins after imaging-confirmed excision.
2084P0800X	Radiology — Interventional	Interventional radiologists may perform localized lesion localization and specimen imaging in some centers.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D05.10`	Lobular carcinoma in situ of breast, unspecified breast	Localization and excision of suspicious lesions may prompt specimen imaging to confirm lesion removal.
`D05.90`	Unspecified carcinoma in situ of breast	CIS lesions identified on imaging or biopsy often lead to surgical excision with specimen radiography.
`C50.911`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast	Malignant breast lesions are commonly excised and the specimen imaged to confirm removal of the target.
`C50.912`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast	Same clinical relevance for left-sided malignant lesions.
`N60.11`	Solitary cyst of right breast	Benign but imaging-detected lesions that are excised may still be imaged intraoperatively to confirm removal.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`19125`	Excision of breast lesion identified by preoperative placement of radiological marker, open; single lesion	Typical surgical procedure that yields the specimen imaged with `76098`.
`19081`	Biopsy, breast, with placement of localization device (radiological marker) when performed (eg, preoperative needle localization)	Often performed preoperatively to localize nonpalpable lesions that are then excised and sent for specimen imaging.
`77065`	Diagnostic mammography, including CAD when performed; unilateral	Preoperative diagnostic mammography that may detect the lesion and guide surgery; not billed at time of intraoperative specimen imaging but part of the imaging workflow.
`76942`	Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration)	Ultrasound guidance used for preoperative biopsy or localization that precedes surgical excision and specimen radiography.
`88305`	Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination	Pathology processing and interpretation of the excised specimen after intraoperative imaging confirms lesion removal.

CPT 76000: Fluoroscopy, Up to One Hour of Real-Time Imaging

CPT-76010-PEDIATRIC-GI-FOREIGN-BODY-SINGLE-IMAGE

CPT 76010: Pediatric GI Foreign Body Single Radiographic Image

CPT-76017-MR-SAFETY-MEDICAL-PHYSICS-EVALUATION-IMPLANTS

CPT 76017: MR Safety Medical Physics Evaluation for Implants

CPT-76018-MR-DEVICE-PROGRAMMING-AND-PREPARATION

CPT 76018: MR Device Programming and Preparation

CPT-76019-MR-IMPLANT-POSITIONING-AND-SAFETY-SUPERVISION

CPT 76019: MR Implant Positioning and Safety Supervision

CPT-76080-ABSCESS-FISTULA-SINUS-TRACT-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

CPT 76080: Supervision and Interpretation of Abscess, Fistula, or Sinus Tract Imaging

CPT-76100-SINGLE-PLANE-TOMOGRAPHIC-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 76100: Single‑Plane Tomographic Radiography

CPT-76120-MOTION-XRAY-RECORDING-DYNAMIC-RADIOGRAPHY

CPT 76120: Motion X‑ray Recording of Physiologic Movement

CPT-76125-MOTION-RADIOGRAPHY-CYCLE-MOVEMENT

CPT 76125: Motion Radiography of a Cycle of Movement

CPT-76140-REMOTE-XRAY-REVIEW-WRITTEN-CONSULT-REPORT

CPT 76140: Review of External X‑ray with Written Consultation Report

Showing 1–10 of 20

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 76098: Intraoperative Specimen Imaging and Interpretation

Sign up for cpt 76098 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Catch payer policy changes before they impact reimbursement

Catch payer policy changes before they impact reimbursement

OpenPayer

CPT 76098: Intraoperative Specimen Imaging and Interpretation

Sign up for cpt 76098 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References