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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Ultrasound Procedures of the ChestCPT cpt-76642-focused-breast-ultrasound-one-breast-limited
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    CPT 76642: Focused Limited Ultrasound of One Breast

    Medicare pays $58 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 76642 describes a focused, limited diagnostic ultrasound exam of a single breast with image documentation; this procedure is a focused diagnostic breast ultrasound typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital outpatient department and used to evaluate a targeted area of concern such as a palpable lump or localized focal abnormality identified on clinical exam or other imaging.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 42-year-old woman presents to an outpatient breast imaging clinic with a palpable focal lump in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Physical exam localizes a 1.5 cm tender nodule. The provider orders a targeted diagnostic breast ultrasound to evaluate the palpable abnormality. The focused ultrasound of one breast (limited, targeted area) is performed by a diagnostic radiologist or breast imaging sonographer under radiologist supervision. The study includes acquisition and documentation of representative still images and cine clips of the lesion in two orthogonal planes, measurement of lesion size, assessment of margins and internal characteristics, and evaluation for associated vascularity or axillary lymphadenopathy as indicated. Results are documented in the patient’s electronic medical record with an impression that guides subsequent management (short-term imaging follow-up, ultrasound-guided biopsy, or referral to surgery). Typical sites of service include outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and radiology suites within ambulatory clinics. The service is limited to one breast and to a focused anatomic area corresponding to the clinical problem.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    76641Ultrasound, breast, unilateral, real time with image documentation, completeUsed when a full diagnostic survey of the entire breast is performed rather than a focused limited exam; more comprehensive than 76642.
    76642Ultrasound, breast, unilateral, real time with image documentation, limitedThe focused unilateral limited ultrasound procedure described; used for targeted evaluation of a specific palpable abnormality or symptom.
    77022Radiological guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy), imaging supervision and interpretationPerformed when ultrasound guidance is required for breast biopsy following abnormal focused ultrasound findings.
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (e.g., for aspiration, biopsy)Used when real-time ultrasound guidance is provided during percutaneous procedures following the diagnostic ultrasound.
    19083Biopsy, breast, with placement of marker, percutaneous, single lesion, stereotactic or ultrasound guidancePerformed when the focused ultrasound leads to image-guided percutaneous core biopsy and marker placement.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    363L00000X
    364SN0800X
    207QB0002X
    332800000X
    385H00000X
    261QM2500X
    2471C3401X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-76604-PLEURAL-SPACE-ULTRASOUND-EVALUATION

    CPT 76604: Ultrasound Evaluation of Pleural Spaces

    CPT-76641-COMPLETE-BREAST-ULTRASOUND-ONE-BREAST

    CPT 76641: Complete Ultrasound of One Breast

    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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