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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Gastrointestinal SystemCPT cpt-78201-liver-spleen-scan-diagnostic-nuclear-medicine
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    CPT 78201: Liver and Spleen Scan

    Medicare pays $120 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78201 describes a liver and spleen scan, a nuclear medicine imaging study used to evaluate the anatomy and function of the liver and spleen; the service is a radiologic/nuclear medicine diagnostic procedure typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital nuclear medicine department to detect focal lesions, assess organ size, and evaluate reticuloendothelial function.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with a history of chronic liver disease and intermittent left upper quadrant pain is referred for a nuclear medicine liver and spleen scan to evaluate organ size, focal lesions, and splenic function. The typical clinical workflow begins with an order from the hepatology or internal medicine service. Nursing confirms allergy history and whether the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. The nuclear medicine technologist explains the procedure, obtains intravenous access, and administers the radiopharmaceutical (commonly technetium-labeled colloid). Imaging is performed in the nuclear medicine department using planar and, if indicated, SPECT acquisition to assess hepatic and splenic uptake patterns. A radiologist or nuclear medicine physician interprets the study, documents findings such as focal defects, splenic sequestration, or functional asplenia, and transmits a report to the referring provider. Typical sites of service are the hospital outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology department, or freestanding outpatient imaging center.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78201Liver and spleen scan; single uptakePrimary procedure for imaging hepatic and splenic uptake and morphology
    78800Radiopharmaceutical therapy or imaging; limited (non-therapeutic) — not an exact matchData not available in the input.
    78014Bone imaging, including whole body; limitedPerformed in patients with suspected metastatic disease when additional skeletal survey is required
    76700Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; limited or focused studyOften performed before or after nuclear imaging to assess focal liver lesions or anatomic correlation
    74177CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast, diagnosticCross-sectional imaging used to characterize lesions seen on nuclear scan or as complementary diagnostic modality

    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
    207RH0000X
    207L00000X
    207K00000X
    2471N0900X
    2279P1004X
    133N00000X
    2471M1202X
    320600000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B18.2Chronic viral hepatitis C
    B19.10Unspecified viral hepatitis B without hepatic coma
    C22.9Malignant neoplasm of liver, not specified as primary or secondary
    C78.7Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct
    C83.99Non-follicular (diffuse) lymphoma, unspecified, extranodal and solid organ sites
    D73.3Abscess of spleen
    D73.9Disease of spleen, unspecified
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    E80.0Hereditary erythropoietic porphyria
    E83.19Other disorders of iron metabolism

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78202-LIVER-SPLEEN-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78202: Liver and Spleen Scan

    CPT-78215-LIVER-SPLEEN-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78215: Liver and Spleen Scan, Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

    CPT-78216-LIVER-SPLEEN-SCAN-DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING

    CPT 78216: Liver and Spleen Scan

    CPT-78226-HEPATOBILIARY-SCINTIGRAPHY-HEPATOBILIARY-IMAGING

    CPT 78226: Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy (Hepatobiliary Imaging)

    CPT-78227-HEPATOBILIARY-SCINTIGRAPHY-LIVER-BILE-GALLBLADDER-IMAGING

    CPT 78227: Hepatobiliary (Cholescintigraphy) Scan

    CPT-78230-SALIVARY-GLAND-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78230: Salivary Gland Imaging with Radiotracer

    CPT-78231-SALIVARY-GLAND-NUCLEAR-IMAGING-SERIAL-IMAGES

    CPT 78231: Salivary Gland Scintigraphy, Serial Imaging

    CPT-78232-SALIVARY-GLAND-SCINTIGRAPHY-PAROTID-FUNCTION

    CPT 78232: Salivary Gland Scintigraphy (Parotid Gland Scan)

    CPT-78258-ESOPHAGEAL-TRANSIT-SCINTIGRAPHY-ESOPHAGEAL-MOTILITY-STUDY

    CPT 78258: Esophageal Transit Scintigraphy

    CPT-78261-GASTRIC-MUCOSA-RADIONUCLIDE-IMAGING

    CPT 78261: Gastric Mucosa Nuclear Imaging

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    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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