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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Cardiovascular SystemCPT cpt-78432-pet-myocardial-perfusion-metabolic-viability
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    CPT 78432: PET Myocardial Perfusion and Viability Imaging

    Medicare pays $98 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78432 describes a PET myocardial imaging study using two radionuclide tracers to assess myocardial perfusion and metabolic activity (for example oxygen or glucose metabolism) and to evaluate myocardial viability; the service includes assessment of ejection fraction and ventricular wall motion if performed and is typically performed as a diagnostic nuclear cardiology procedure in an outpatient imaging center, hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department, or specialized cardiac PET facility.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old male with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and prior percutaneous coronary intervention presents with progressive exertional dyspnea and equivocal findings on prior stress testing. The cardiologist orders a PET myocardial perfusion and metabolic viability study to assess myocardial blood flow, identify hibernating myocardium, and evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion. The patient arrives at an outpatient nuclear cardiology or hospital imaging department.

    The clinical workflow: the patient is screened for contraindications to PET tracers and venous access is obtained. A perfusion tracer is administered first, with gated PET acquisition for perfusion and left ventricular function. After an appropriate interval, a metabolic tracer (commonly FDG) is administered and imaging is performed to evaluate myocardial metabolism and viability. Images are processed to produce perfusion and metabolic fused datasets. A nuclear medicine physician or cardiologist with PET expertise interprets perfusion defects, matched or mismatched metabolism, ejection fraction, and wall motion data, then documents findings and issues a formal report for the referring cardiologist for treatment planning (medical therapy vs revascularization). Typical sites of service include outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and inpatient settings when clinically indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78452Myocardial PET imaging, perfusion; single study, quantitative blood flow and ejection fraction when performedPerfusion-focused PET code that may be billed when perfusion-only PET is performed without metabolic imaging; complements or precedes 78432 when only perfusion is obtained.
    78816Positron emission tomography (PET) including concurrent CT for attenuation correction, adult or pediatric; single area, cardiacRepresents PET imaging with PET/CT acquisition for attenuation correction; often billed alongside cardiac PET studies when PET/CT is used for localization and attenuation correction.
    93306Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation (2D), includes M-mode recording, when performed; completePerformed before or after PET to assess structural heart disease, provide baseline LV function, or guide management; complementary to PET-derived EF.
    93000Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; interpretation and reportPerformed on the day of imaging for cardiac rhythm and baseline assessment prior to PET.
    78431PET myocardial imaging, perfusion and metabolism, single tracerRelated PET myocardial code for single-tracer studies; contrasts with 78432 which specifies two tracers for perfusion and metabolism.

    Related Modifiers

    10 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207RG0300X
    2080P0207X
    2084N0400X
    207L00000X
    2088P0231X
    2278P1005X
    231HA2400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.51Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral angiopathy without gangrene
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    I20.9Angina pectoris, unspecified
    I21.3ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction of unspecified site
    I21.4Non-ST elevation (NSTEMI) myocardial infarction
    I25.10Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris
    I25.110Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with unstable angina pectoris
    I25.2Old myocardial infarction
    I25.700Atherosclerosis of coronary artery bypass graft(s), unspecified, with unstable angina pectoris

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-78414-CARDIAC-PERFUSION-BLOOD-FLOW-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 78414: Cardiac Perfusion and Ejection Fraction Assessment

    CPT-78428-LEFT-TO-RIGHT-CARDIAC-SHUNT-DETECTION

    CPT 78428: Detection of Left-to-Right Cardiac Shunt

    CPT-78429-PET-MYOCARDIAL-IMAGING-PET-CT-MYOCARDIUM-FUNCTION

    CPT 78429: PET Myocardial Imaging, Single Study

    CPT-78430-PET-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-IMAGING-REST-OR-STRESS

    CPT 78430: PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with CT

    CPT-78431-PET-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-IMAGING-REST-AND-STRESS

    CPT 78431: PET Myocardial Perfusion with CT Transmission, Rest and Stress

    CPT-78433-PET-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-METABOLIC-IMAGING-CT

    CPT 78433: PET Myocardial Imaging for Perfusion and Metabolism

    CPT-78434-PET-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-REST-AND-STRESS

    CPT 78434: PET Myocardial Blood Flow Study, Rest and Stress

    CPT-78445-ANGIOGRAPHY-VENOGRAPHY-DIAGNOSTIC-VASCULAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78445: Angiography/Venography Blood Flow Imaging

    CPT-78451-SINGLE-SPECT-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-STUDY

    CPT 78451: Myocardial Perfusion SPECT, Single Study

    CPT-78452-CARDIAC-PERFUSION-SPECT-MULTIPLE-STUDIES

    CPT 78452: Myocardial Perfusion SPECT, Multiple Studies

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    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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