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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Hematopoietic, Reticuloendothelial and Lymphatic SystemCPT cpt-78104-whole-body-bone-scan
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    CPT 78104: Whole-Body Radionuclide Skeletal Scan

    Medicare pays $154 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78104 describes a whole-body radionuclide skeletal scan performed after intravenous administration of a radiopharmaceutical; this noninvasive diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging study acquires serial images of the entire skeleton to evaluate tracer distribution and detect metabolic or structural bone abnormalities. Service type: whole-body bone scan / nuclear medicine imaging. Typical site of service: hospital outpatient imaging department or freestanding nuclear medicine center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult referred by an oncologist for evaluation of suspected osseous metastatic disease based on new bone pain and an abnormal tumor marker or prior imaging. The patient arrives to a nuclear medicine department or an outpatient radiology clinic. Intravenous access is obtained, a technologist administers a radiopharmaceutical (radiotracer), and the patient rests for the appropriate uptake period. The provider performs a whole-body scan in multiple intervals using a gamma camera or SPECT system to image tracer distribution through the entire skeleton. Images are reviewed by a nuclear medicine physician who documents findings, compares with prior studies when available, and issues a coded report for billing. Typical sites of service include an outpatient hospital imaging center, freestanding nuclear medicine facility, or hospital radiology department.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78306Limited bone imaging (single or multiple areas)Performed when a focused regional bone scan is needed instead of a whole-body study
    78800Radiopharmaceutical localization of tumor or distribution (planar imaging)Related nuclear medicine studies for lesion localization and follow-up
    78803Bone imaging, with SPECT, single areaUsed when tomographic (SPECT) imaging of a specific region complements the whole-body scan
    76499Unlisted diagnostic radiology procedureUsed rarely for nonstandard imaging protocols not covered by existing codes

    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…
    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
    207K00000X
    207L00000X
    246ZB0302X
    252Y00000X
    207VB0002X
    311500000X
    2080P0208X
    225500000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78102-LIMITED-AREA-BONE-IMAGING-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78102: Limited-Area Bone Imaging (Nuclear Medicine)

    CPT-78103-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-BONE-SCAN

    CPT 78103: Multisite Bone Scintigraphy (Nuclear Medicine)

    CPT-78110-SINGLE-SAMPLE-PLASMA-VOLUME-DETERMINATION

    CPT 78110: Single-Sample Radioisotope Plasma Volume Determination

    CPT-78111-PLASMA-VOLUME-MULTIPLE-SAMPLE-METHOD

    CPT 78111: Plasma Volume Determination, Multiple Sample Method

    CPT-78120-RADIOLABELED-SINGLE-SAMPLE-RED-CELL-VOLUME

    CPT 78120: Single-Sample Radioisotope Red Cell Volume Determination

    CPT-78121-RED-CELL-VOLUME-MULTIPLE-SAMPLE-METHOD

    CPT 78121: Red Cell Volume by Multiple-Sample Radioisotope Method

    CPT-78122-WHOLE-BLOOD-VOLUME-STUDY-ISOTOPE-DILUTION

    CPT 78122: Whole Blood Volume Study by Isotope Dilution

    CPT-78130-RED-BLOOD-CELL-SURVIVAL-STUDY-AUTOLOGOUS-RADIOLABEL

    CPT 78130: Red Blood Cell Lifespan Study, Radiolabeled Autologous RBC

    CPT-78140-LIVER-SPLEEN-RADIOLABELED-RED-BLOOD-CELL-SCAN

    CPT 78140: Liver and Spleen Scan with Radiolabeled Red Blood Cells

    CPT-78185-SPLEEN-RADIONUCLIDE-SCAN-SPLENIC-IMAGING

    CPT 78185: Radionuclide Spleen Study for Size/Position and Lesion Detection

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    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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