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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedures on the Nervous SystemCPT cpt-78609-pet-brain-imaging
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    CPT 78609: Brain PET Scan for Function and Perfusion

    CPT code 78609 describes a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the brain, a diagnostic nuclear medicine procedure that evaluates brain function and cerebral blood flow; the service type is diagnostic brain PET imaging and the typical site of service is an outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department.

    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 an adult referred by a neurologist or primary care physician for evaluation of cognitive decline, suspected neurodegenerative disease (for example, Alzheimer disease), or to assess regional cerebral blood flow after cerebrovascular events. The patient arrives at an outpatient radiology or nuclear medicine department or an inpatient hospital imaging center. After verifying indication and obtaining informed consent, the nuclear medicine team administers a radiotracer (commonly FDG or perfusion tracers) and performs a PET brain acquisition. Vital signs are monitored, and contraindications (recent contrast, pregnancy, or inability to cooperate) are reviewed. Images are reconstructed and interpreted by a board-certified nuclear medicine physician or neuroradiologist; a report documents tracer uptake patterns, compares with prior studies when available, and provides an impression that guides clinical management such as dementia workup, seizure focus localization, or assessment of cerebral perfusion post-stroke. Typical sites of service include outpatient imaging centers, hospital outpatient departments, and inpatient radiology suites.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    70553Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, without and with contrast, including spectroscopy when performed; interpretation and reportPerformed when MRI is needed for structural correlation with PET functional findings prior to or after PET.
    78811PET imaging, any site, single study; without concomitant CTAlternative PET code for non-CT combined PET procedures; used in facilities that bill PET alone rather than combined PET/CT codes.
    78608PET brain imaging, limitedUsed for brain PET variants or limited studies when a more limited protocol is performed (compare to full study 78609).
    78815PET imaging, any site, multiple studies, whole body for tumor imagingPerformed in oncology workflows where brain PET may be part of a larger whole-body evaluation.
    74177Computed tomography, abdomen and pelvis, with contrastExample of ancillary imaging often performed in oncology patients undergoing PET for staging; shows broader workflow integration.

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    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…
    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
    2084P0800X
    363L00000X
    208D00000X
    208600000X
    2084P0005X
    364SP0808X
    207ZP0105X
    208000000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F02.80Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
    F03.90Unspecified dementia, unspecified severity, without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety
    F05Delirium due to known physiological condition
    F06.8Other specified mental disorders due to known physiological condition
    F07.0Personality change due to known physiological condition
    F44.89Other dissociative and conversion disorders
    G30.1Alzheimer's disease with late onset
    G30.9Alzheimer's disease, unspecified
    G31.83Neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
    G31.84Mild cognitive impairment of uncertain or unknown etiology

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    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-78600-BRAIN-NUCLEAR-STATIC-IMAGING-FEWER-THAN-FOUR-VIEWS

    CPT 78600: Nuclear Diagnostic Brain Imaging, <4 Static Views

    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-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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