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    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Nervous SystemCPT cpt-78600-brain-nuclear-static-imaging-fewer-than-four-views
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    CPT 78600: Nuclear Diagnostic Brain Imaging, <4 Static Views

    Medicare pays $116 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78600 describes nuclear diagnostic imaging of the brain using a radiopharmaceutical to assess brain function with fewer than four static two-dimensional views; this is a nuclear medicine brain imaging service typically performed as an outpatient diagnostic imaging study in a hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department or an ambulatory imaging center.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM), Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®), Lumbar Microdiscectomy.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 68-year-old male referred to nuclear medicine for evaluation of suspected cerebrovascular ischemia after transient neurologic deficits. The patient presents to an outpatient hospital imaging center or a freestanding nuclear medicine clinic. The nuclear medicine technologist verifies identity, assesses allergies and pregnancy status, and explains the procedure. A small intravenous radiopharmaceutical dose (for example, a brain perfusion agent) is administered. Static planar imaging of the brain is performed with fewer than four views, typically anterior and lateral projections. The interpreting nuclear medicine physician or neuroradiologist reviews images for regional perfusion defects, documents findings, and issues a report. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient imaging departments, ambulatory imaging centers, and freestanding nuclear medicine clinics.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78600Nuclear medicine brain imaging; less than four static viewsPrimary procedure describing planar brain perfusion study with fewer than four static views.
    78800Radiopharmaceutical therapy procedures (limited)Data not available in the input.
    78803PET brain imaging, qualitative analysisOften an alternative modality when metabolic brain imaging is required.
    70553Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, with and without contrastOften performed before or after nuclear imaging for structural correlation.
    95816Electroencephalogram (EEG) during video monitoringMay be performed in the diagnostic workflow for seizure evaluation alongside functional imaging.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2084N0402X
    208000000X
    176B00000X
    207L00000X
    171W00000X
    364SC1501X
    213EP0504X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Neurology/Neurosurgery1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Clinical Review Criteria Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)Kaiser Permanente2027-01-01
    Remote Electrical Neuromodulation for Migraines (i.e., Nerivio®)bcbsvermont2026-11-01
    Lumbar Microdiscectomyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Cervical Intervertebral Discuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Responsive Neurostimulation for Focal EpilepsyPremera Bluecross2026-10-14
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Intraoperative MonitoringProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    High-Intensity Focused UltrasoundMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Vagal Nerve StimulationAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78601-BRAIN-NUCLEAR-PERFUSION-IMAGING-FEWER-THAN-FOUR-STATIC-VIEWS

    CPT 78601: Nuclear Diagnostic Brain Imaging, Static Views and Flow

    CPT-78605-BRAIN-NUCLEAR-STATIC-IMAGING-FOUR-OR-MORE-VIEWS

    CPT 78605: Brain Nuclear Diagnostic Imaging, Four+ Static Views

    CPT-78606-NUCLEAR-BRAIN-IMAGING-STATIC-VIEWS-CEREBRAL-BLOOD-FLOW

    CPT 78606: Brain Nuclear Imaging, Static Views with Flow Evaluation

    CPT-78608-PET-BRAIN-METABOLIC-IMAGING

    CPT 78608: Brain PET for Cerebral Metabolic Imaging

    CPT-78609-PET-BRAIN-IMAGING

    CPT 78609: Brain PET Scan for Function and Perfusion

    CPT-78610-CEREBRAL-PERFUSION-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-STUDY

    CPT 78610: Brain Perfusion Study with Gamma Tracer

    CPT-78630-CSF-FLOW-STUDY-HYDROCEPHALUS-LEAK-EVALUATION

    CPT 78630: Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Study, Head

    CPT-78635-CSF-FLOW-VENTRICULAR-IMAGING-HYDROCEPHALUS

    CPT 78635: CSF Flow Study for Ventricular Assessment

    CPT-78645-CSF-SHUNT-FLOW-IMAGING

    CPT 78645: CSF Shunt Patency and Flow Imaging Study

    CPT-78650-CSF-LEAK-NUCLEAR-IMAGING-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78650: Nuclear Medicine Localization of CSF Leak

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    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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