Summary & Overview
CPT 78708: Kidney Scan, Renal Nuclear Imaging
CPT code 78708 denotes a kidney scan, a nuclear medicine procedure used to assess renal anatomy and physiology through cortical imaging and functional tracer studies. This test is clinically important for evaluating kidney shape, cortical defects, perfusion, and renal drainage dynamics—information that informs diagnosis and management of obstructive uropathy, renal cortical scarring, and perfusion abnormalities. Nationally, renal nuclear imaging is routinely used across hospital outpatient departments and dedicated imaging centers, and it is subject to payer coverage criteria and prior authorization in many plans.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise account of what CPT code 78708 represents, how it is typically performed and where it is provided, and which major payers commonly cover the service. The publication also summarizes benchmarking points, relevant policy considerations affecting coverage and utilization, and the clinical context clinicians and billing staff should understand when coding and submitting claims for renal nuclear imaging.
Data not available in the input includes specific payer-level reimbursement rates, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 diagnosis code mappings. Those items are noted as unavailable and are not included in this summary.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 78708 describes a kidney scan, a nuclear medicine imaging study used to evaluate the structure and function of the kidneys and renal blood flow. The procedure includes two main types: a cortical scan to assess renal shape and cortical anatomy, and a functional scan to measure tracer transit time through the kidney, collection in the urine, and drainage into the bladder.
Service type: Nuclear medicine renal imaging
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient imaging departments, independent radiology or nuclear medicine centers, and inpatient hospital radiology services
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections and a single episode of acute flank pain is referred from primary care to nuclear medicine for a renal cortical and functional scan to evaluate renal morphology and differential perfusion. The typical clinical workflow begins with chart review of indications (e.g., suspected renal scarring, pyelonephritis, obstruction, or differential renal function), medication and allergy screening, and verification of renal function and pregnancy status if applicable. The patient arrives at the nuclear medicine department, consents to the procedure, and an intravenous line is placed for radiopharmaceutical injection. A cortical scan is performed to visualize renal shape and cortical defects; a functional (renogram) phase follows to assess perfusion, uptake, transit time, and drainage into the bladder. Images are acquired dynamically and with delayed static views as indicated. The nuclear medicine physician reviews images, generates a report quantifying differential renal function and any focal cortical defects or obstruction pattern, and the results are communicated to the referring clinician for management decisions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician interpretation/report for the nuclear medicine study separate from technical resources. |