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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Respiratory SystemCPT cpt-78579-pulmonary-ventilation-imaging-nuclear-scan
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    CPT 78579: Pulmonary Ventilation Imaging

    Medicare pays $116 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78579 describes a pulmonary ventilation imaging nuclear medicine study that evaluates the distribution and circulation of air within the lungs; this is a diagnostic pulmonary ventilation scan performed by a nuclear medicine or radiology provider and is typically delivered as an outpatient imaging service in an imaging center, hospital radiology department, or nuclear medicine suite.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with acute onset dyspnea and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and prior deep vein thrombosis is referred for pulmonary ventilation imaging to evaluate regional air distribution and rule out ventilation–perfusion mismatch. The study is ordered by a pulmonologist or nuclear medicine physician after initial chest radiograph and clinical assessment suggest possible pulmonary embolism or unexplained hypoxemia. The technologist explains the procedure, confirms patient identity and allergies, and obtains informed consent when applicable. The patient inhales a radiopharmaceutical aerosol or gas while sequential gamma camera images are acquired in multiple projections. Images are processed and interpreted by the reading physician, who compares ventilation images with contemporaneous or prior perfusion imaging to assess for matched or mismatched defects. Results are documented in the radiology or nuclear medicine report and communicated to the referring clinician for further management decisions.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78580Pulmonary perfusion imaging; planarPerfusion imaging is commonly performed contemporaneously or sequentially with ventilation imaging to assess ventilation–perfusion matching and detect perfusion defects.
    78800Radiopharmaceutical localization (planar), lung, perfusion, single studyAlternate coding for perfusion studies depending on radiopharmaceutical and facility protocols; used in the perfusion component of a V/Q workup.
    71045Radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontalOften performed prior to nuclear ventilation-perfusion studies as initial imaging to evaluate lung fields and exclude alternative pathology.
    71250CT thorax without contrastCT pulmonary angiography (when performed) is an alternative or complementary study to evaluate pulmonary embolism; guides correlation with V/Q results.
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify drug)May be used for administration of radiopharmaceuticals in some billing scenarios if facility requires separate administration code.

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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
    2085R0202X
    207P00000X
    363LF0000X
    208D00000X
    367500000X
    152WL0500X
    126900000X
    261QF0400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    I26.99Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale
    I50.9Heart failure, unspecified
    J12.89Other viral pneumonia
    J18.9Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    J20.9Acute bronchitis, unspecified
    J43.9Emphysema, unspecified
    J44.9Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
    J45.909Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated
    J69.0Pneumonitis due to inhalation of food and vomit
    J84.10Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 3

    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-78580-PULMONARY-PERFUSION-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

    CPT 78580: Lung Perfusion Nuclear Imaging for Pulmonary Embolism

    CPT-78582-PULMONARY-VENTILATION-AND-PERFUSION-NUCLEAR-SCAN

    CPT 78582: Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion Nuclear Scan

    CPT-78597-PULMONARY-PERFUSION-QUANTITATIVE-NUCLEAR-SCAN

    CPT 78597: Pulmonary Perfusion Quantitative Blood Flow

    CPT-78598-PULMONARY-VENTILATION-PERFUSION-QUANTITATIVE-SCAN

    CPT 78598: Quantitative Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion Scan

    CPT-78599-UNLISTED-RESPIRATORY-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-PROCEDURE

    CPT 78599: Respiratory Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine, Unlisted Procedure

    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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