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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Gastrointestinal SystemCPT cpt-78261-gastric-mucosa-radionuclide-imaging
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    CPT 78261: Gastric Mucosa Nuclear Imaging

    Medicare pays $128 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78261 describes a nuclear medicine gastric mucosal imaging study in which the provider images the lining of the stomach after intravenous administration of a radiopharmaceutical to evaluate causes of acute gastrointestinal bleeding (for example, Meckel’s diverticulum or cysts); service type: diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging; typical site of service: hospital outpatient radiology/nuclear medicine department or pediatric imaging center.

    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 7-year-old child presents to the pediatric emergency department with painless, intermittent episodes of bright red rectal bleeding over 24 hours. Initial vital signs are stable but the child has mild anemia on laboratory testing. After stabilizing with IV fluids and crossmatching, the pediatrician requests a nuclear medicine gastric mucosal imaging study to evaluate for ectopic gastric mucosa such as Meckel’s diverticulum. The nuclear medicine technologist obtains IV access and administers the radiopharmaceutical (typically technetium-99m pertechnetate). Sequential abdominal and pelvic gamma camera images are acquired over a period of 30–60 minutes while the child is monitored by the nuclear medicine nurse. The interpreting nuclear medicine physician reviews dynamic and static images, documents focal tracer uptake in the right lower quadrant consistent with ectopic gastric mucosa, and provides a written report to the referring pediatric surgeon and emergency department team for further management.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78261Gastric mucosal imaging, scintigraphy (e.g., for Meckel’s diverticulum), including administration of radiopharmaceutical and imagingPrimary procedure to localize ectopic gastric mucosa in a patient with GI bleeding
    78207Tagged red blood cell imaging for GI bleeding or localization of bleeding sourcePerformed when active bleeding is intermittent or to localize slower bleeding not seen on gastric mucosal scan
    78800Radiopharmaceutical therapy or imaging agent (administration code varies)Related to handling and administration of radiopharmaceuticals; used in billing contexts when separate admin code is required
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance)Used for IV medication administration accompanying imaging (e.g., premedication) when billable
    71046Chest radiograph, two viewsOften performed pre-procedure for sedated patients or to evaluate cardiopulmonary status in pediatric ED workflow

    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…
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    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
    207L00000X
    390200000X
    331L00000X
    261QV0200X
    261Q00000X
    2085R0205X
    207QA0000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    29 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A09Infectious gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
    D50.9Iron deficiency anemia, unspecified
    D62Acute posthemorrhagic anemia
    D69.6Thrombocytopenia, unspecified
    I85.01Esophageal varices with bleeding
    I85.11Secondary esophageal varices with bleeding
    K21.9Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis
    K25.0Acute gastric ulcer with hemorrhage
    K26.0Acute duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage
    K27.0Acute peptic ulcer, site unspecified, with hemorrhage

    Showing 1–10 of 29

    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-78201-LIVER-SPLEEN-SCAN-DIAGNOSTIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

    CPT 78201: Liver and Spleen Scan

    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

    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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