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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Endocrine SystemCPT cpt-78013-thyroid-radioiodine-imaging-uptake
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    CPT 78013: Thyroid Scintigraphy with Radioiodine Imaging

    Medicare pays $116 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78013 describes thyroid scintigraphy performed after administration of radioiodine to image the thyroid gland and assess uptake, structure, size, and focal abnormalities; this nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging service is typically performed in an outpatient radiology or nuclear medicine department and is used to evaluate lumps, inflammation, hyperthyroidism causes, and anatomic thyroid abnormalities.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Diabetic Supplies, Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules, Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old woman presents with a palpable thyroid nodule and symptoms of palpitations and weight loss. Her primary care physician documents abnormal thyroid function tests with elevated free thyroxine and suppressed TSH and refers her for thyroid scintigraphy to evaluate uptake patterns and determine whether the nodule is functioning (hot) or nonfunctioning (cold). At the nuclear medicine appointment the patient receives a measured oral dose of radioiodine (usually I-123 or I-131 depending on local protocol). After an appropriate uptake interval the nuclear medicine technologist and interpreting physician perform thyroid imaging to quantify radioiodine uptake and visualize gland morphology and focal uptake. The clinical workflow includes: patient check-in and medication reconciliation (review of iodine-containing contrast, recent antithyroid drugs), administration of the radiopharmaceutical with dose documentation, timed uptake measurement, planar and/or SPECT imaging of the thyroid, image processing, interpretation and reporting by a board‑certified nuclear medicine physician or radiologist, and documentation of findings in the electronic medical record with correlation to laboratory and ultrasound data. Typical sites of service are an outpatient nuclear medicine department, ambulatory imaging center, or hospital radiology department.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78013Thyroid uptake and imaging after administration of radioiodinePrimary code for thyroid scintigraphy and uptake quantification
    78306Thyroid uptake, multiple time points; single or dual probe counting, with or without imagingAlternative/additional uptake-only procedure that may be performed to quantify whole gland uptake at multiple time points
    76076Radiographic guidance for localization of radiopaque foreign body; superficialNot typically related — Data not available in the input.
    78190Other nuclear medicine therapeutic proceduresData not available in the input.
    78800Rectilinear tomography, whole body; planar imaging — single studyData not applicable — included for reference in nuclear medicine imaging codes

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    261QR0400X
    281PC2000X
    261QX0200X
    1223P0300X
    3336M0003X
    363LN0000X
    163WR0006X
    163WM0705X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C73Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
    D44.0Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of thyroid gland
    E01.1Iodine-deficiency related multinodular (endemic) goiter
    E03.9Hypothyroidism, unspecified
    E04.1Nontoxic single thyroid nodule
    E04.2Nontoxic multinodular goiter
    E04.9Nontoxic goiter, unspecified
    E05.00Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.01Thyrotoxicosis with diffuse goiter with thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    E05.90Thyrotoxicosis, unspecified without thyrotoxic crisis or storm

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Diabetic SuppliesCigna2026-10-15
    Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid NodulesCigna2026-10-15
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) CoverageUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Indiana Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Insulin PumpsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Continuous Glucose MonitorsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose MonitoringAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78012-THYROID-RADIOIODINE-UPTAKE-STUDY

    CPT 78012: Radioiodine Thyroid Uptake, 4–24 Hour

    CPT-78014-THYROID-RADIOIODINE-UPTAKE-IMAGING

    CPT 78014: Thyroid Radioiodine Uptake and Imaging

    CPT-78015-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78015: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78016-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78016: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78018-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78018: Thyroid Scan, Radionuclide Imaging

    CPT-78020-THYROID-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78020: Thyroid Scan, Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78070-PARATHYROID-DUAL-TRACER-IMAGING-SUBTRACTION-STUDY

    CPT 78070: Parathyroid Imaging with Dual Tracer/Subtraction

    CPT-78071-SPECT-PARATHYROID-IMAGING-DUAL-TRACER

    CPT 78071: SPECT Parathyroid Imaging with Planar/Subtraction Study

    CPT-78072-PARATHYROID-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-SPECT-CT-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78072: Parathyroid Nuclear Medicine Imaging with SPECT/CT

    CPT-78075-FUNCTIONAL-ADRENAL-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78075: Functional Adrenal Imaging with Radiotracer

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    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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