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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Hematopoietic, Reticuloendothelial and Lymphatic SystemCPT cpt-78185-spleen-radionuclide-scan-splenic-imaging
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    CPT 78185: Radionuclide Spleen Study for Size/Position and Lesion Detection

    Medicare pays $108 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78185 describes a radionuclide spleen study performed after intravenous administration of a radiopharmaceutical to assess the size and position of the spleen or to detect tumors, abscesses, or cysts; the service is a diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging procedure typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital nuclear medicine department to obtain functional and anatomic information about the spleen.

    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 58-year-old adult presents with left upper quadrant abdominal pain and unexplained anemia. The referring clinician orders a nuclear medicine spleen scan to evaluate for splenic enlargement, focal lesions, or splenic sequestration after abnormal findings on physical exam and ultrasound. The patient arrives at an outpatient radiology or nuclear medicine clinic after intravenous access is obtained in the clinical reception area. A technologist administers a radiopharmaceutical (radiotracer) intravenously and acquires serial planar and/or SPECT images of the spleen using the nuclear medicine gamma camera. The interpreting nuclear medicine physician reviews image quality, assesses splenic size, shape, position, and focal defects suggestive of tumors, abscesses, cysts, or infarcts, documents findings in a formal report, and communicates urgent results to the referring provider. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient radiology departments, freestanding outpatient imaging centers, and hospital-based nuclear medicine suites.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78185Spleen imaging after IV radiopharmaceutical; study to determine size/position or detect tumors, abscesses, or cystsPrimary nuclear medicine procedure for spleen evaluation.
    78800Radiopharmaceutical localization of tumor or distribution of agent (planar)May be used for complementary planar imaging protocols when tumors or focal lesions are localized.
    78803Radiopharmaceutical localization of tumor or distribution of agent (SPECT)SPECT acquisition often performed in conjunction with planar spleen imaging to improve lesion detection.
    78466Myocardial perfusion imaging, planar (example of related nuclear techniques)Represents other nuclear medicine perfusion studies performed in the same department; listed as a commonly adjacent service in workflow.
    96413Chemotherapy administration, infusion hours — example unrelated therapeutic serviceData not available in the input.

    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…
    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
    208000000X
    213ES0103X
    1041S0200X
    111NX0800X
    2865M2000X
    172P00000X
    163WP1700X
    320700000X

    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-78104-WHOLE-BODY-BONE-SCAN

    CPT 78104: Whole-Body Radionuclide Skeletal Scan

    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

    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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