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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Cardiovascular SystemCPT cpt-78433-pet-myocardial-perfusion-metabolic-imaging-ct
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    CPT 78433: PET Myocardial Imaging for Perfusion and Metabolism

    Medicare pays $103 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78433 describes a positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial imaging study with concurrent CT transmission scan using two radionuclide tracers to evaluate myocardial perfusion and metabolic activity (such as oxygen or glucose metabolism) and assess myocardial viability; the service is a nuclear cardiology imaging procedure typically performed in an outpatient imaging center or hospital imaging department and may include ejection fraction and ventricular wall motion assessment if performed.

    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 62-year-old patient with a history of ischemic heart disease, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, and worsening exertional dyspnea is referred for a PET myocardial perfusion and viability study. The referring cardiologist requests assessment of myocardial perfusion, metabolic activity, and viability to determine the presence and extent of reversible ischemia and hibernating myocardium prior to consideration of revascularization. The patient arrives at an outpatient nuclear cardiology facility or hospital imaging department after appropriate dietary preparation for metabolic imaging. A nuclear medicine technologist places intravenous access and administers two radionuclide tracers per protocol (one tracer for perfusion, one for metabolic/viability imaging), and a concurrent CT transmission scan is performed for attenuation correction and anatomical localization. The interpreting nuclear cardiologist or radiologist reviews gated PET images for perfusion defects, metabolic mismatch patterns, ejection fraction, and left ventricular wall motion. Images and a structured report are finalized and transmitted to the referring cardiologist for treatment planning. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient imaging centers, freestanding nuclear cardiology centers, and accredited cardiac PET facilities.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78433PET myocardial perfusion and metabolic (viability) imaging with concurrent CT transmission scan using two radionuclide tracers; includes ejection fraction and ventricular wall motion when performedPrimary procedure described.
    78451Myocardial perfusion imaging, single study, single tracer; planar or tomographic, SPECTAlternative or complementary perfusion study when PET is not available; may be performed in other workflows.
    78452Myocardial perfusion imaging, pharmacologic stress; SPECTPharmacologic stress SPECT may be used when exercise stress is contraindicated and can complement viability assessment in some patients.
    75557Cardiac MRI for ventricular function and viability, without contrastAlternative non-nuclear modality for viability and function assessment when PET is contraindicated or unavailable.
    71045Chest radiography, single viewOften obtained as part of pre-imaging evaluation or to assess lines, devices, or acute cardiopulmonary issues before PET.

    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…
    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…
    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…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    207RP1001X
    207RC0000X
    156FX1201X
    226300000X
    222Q00000X
    1223E0200X
    261QV0200X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    29 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
    I21.9Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified
    I22.9Subsequent ST elevation (STEMI) myocardial infarction of unspecified site
    I25.10Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris
    I25.110Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with unstable angina pectoris
    I25.6Silent myocardial ischemia
    I34.0Nonrheumatic mitral (valve) insufficiency

    Showing 1–10 of 29

    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-78432-PET-MYOCARDIAL-PERFUSION-METABOLIC-VIABILITY

    CPT 78432: PET Myocardial Perfusion and Viability Imaging

    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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