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CPT 78730: Ureteral Reflux Study with Bladder Function Radioisotope Evaluation

CPT code 78730 denotes a combined diagnostic procedure that evaluates vesicoureteral reflux and bladder functional defects using a radioisotope during a ureteral reflux study. This mixed imaging and functional assessment matter nationally because it informs management of pediatric and adult patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, suspected reflux, or bladder dysfunction, and influences utilization of nuclear medicine services in outpatient and hospital settings. Key payers typically involved in coverage and payment decisions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will learn the clinical intent of the code, the typical care setting, and the scope of services captured by the code. The publication also summarizes common billing modifiers associated with this type of service, outlines where this procedure fits in clinical workflows, and highlights points payers commonly consider when adjudicating claims. Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service-line financial benchmarks.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 78730 describes a diagnostic procedure in which a provider performs a ureteral reflux study while simultaneously using a radioisotope to evaluate functional defects in the urinary bladder. The procedure assesses both vesicoureteral reflux and bladder function by combining fluoroscopic or radionuclide reflux imaging with radionuclide assessment of bladder dynamics.

Service type: Nuclear medicine diagnostic study combined with urinary tract/voiding function assessment
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory imaging center

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CPT 78730: Ureteral Reflux Study with Bladder Function Radioisotope Evaluation

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Nuclear medicine diagnostic study combined with urinary tract/voiding function assessment
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory imaging center

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A pediatric patient with a history of recurrent febrile urinary tract infections is referred for evaluation of suspected vesicoureteral reflux and bladder dysfunction. The clinician performs a radionuclide cystogram with simultaneous ureteral reflux study using a radioisotope to detect reflux and to evaluate functional defects of the urinary bladder (such as post-void residual, bladder emptying dysfunction, or intravesical reflux). The procedure is typically scheduled in an outpatient radiology or nuclear medicine department, or in a hospital outpatient imaging suite. The workflow includes: pre-procedure consent and allergy screening, catheterization of the bladder, instillation of a tracer-labeled saline or radiopharmaceutical, acquisition of dynamic gamma camera imaging during filling and voiding phases, post-void imaging to assess residual activity, interpretation by a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician, and documentation of findings including presence/grade of reflux and any functional bladder abnormality. The patient may require supervision by pediatric nursing staff and may be discharged the same day with follow-up arranged with the referring pediatrician or pediatric urologist.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician interpretation/report separate from the technical imaging.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical portion (equipment, technologist, radiopharmaceutical).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure was started but terminated for patient safety or other valid reasons.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Data not available in the input.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not available in the input.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use if an unplanned repeat interventional imaging procedure is required under the same encounter.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon is needed and documented (rare for this imaging study).
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimum assistant is documented.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery	Use when advanced practice clinician provided documented assistant services.
`22`	Increased procedural service	Use when the procedure requires substantially greater effort or time than usual and documentation supports it.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the full procedure was not performed; documentation must justify the reduction.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080P0200X	Pediatric Radiology	Common interpreting specialists for pediatric radionuclide cystography and reflux studies.
2085R0201X	Diagnostic Radiology	Radiologists frequently perform and interpret these nuclear medicine studies.
208N00000X	Nuclear Medicine	Nuclear medicine physicians interpret dynamic radionuclide bladder studies and provide reports.
2084P0800X	Urology	Urologists order and may correlate results for surgical planning in reflux or bladder dysfunction.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`N39.0`	Urinary tract infection, site not specified	Indication for reflux evaluation in patients with recurrent UTIs.
`N13.7`	Reflux nephropathy	Directly related to evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux and bladder-related functional defects.
`N32.9`	Disorder of bladder, unspecified	Broad category for bladder dysfunction assessed with radionuclide cystography.
`N31.9`	Neuromuscular dysfunction of bladder, unspecified	Relevant when bladder emptying dysfunction or neurogenic bladder is suspected.
`Q62.0`	Congenital absence of bladder or bladder exstrophy	Congenital anomalies of the urinary tract that may warrant functional imaging (selected congenital codes pertinent to pediatric urology).

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`78740`	Intravenous renal scintigraphy; including an angioscintigraphic phase when performed	May be performed alongside to evaluate renal drainage and differential renal function when reflux is suspected.
`78750`	Diuretic renal scintigraphy (e.g., Lasix renal scan)	Used when assessment of obstructive uropathy or drainage is needed in conjunction with bladder functional assessment.
`74400`	Fluoroscopic cystography, voiding (including voiding radiographs)	Alternative or complementary study to evaluate vesicoureteral reflux with anatomic detail; may be performed instead of or after radionuclide study.
`51701`	Complex uroflowmetry with pressure flow studies including cystometrogram when performed	Performed by urology to evaluate bladder function and may follow radionuclide functional assessment.
`51798`	Bladder catheterization, single or multiple	Performed as part of study set-up to instill radiotracer into the bladder prior to imaging.

CPT 78700: Kidney Scan, Renal Structure and Function

CPT-78701-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-KIDNEY-IMAGING

CPT 78701: Kidney Scan, Nuclear Medicine

CPT-78707-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

CPT 78707: Kidney Scan, Cortical and Functional Imaging

CPT-78708-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

CPT 78708: Kidney Scan, Renal Nuclear Imaging

CPT-78709-KIDNEY-SCAN-RENAL-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

CPT 78709: Kidney Scan, Renal Structure and Function

CPT-78725-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

CPT 78725: Kidney Scan, Nuclear Medicine Renal Imaging

CPT-78740-VOIDING-CYSTOURETHROGRAM-URETERAL-REFLUX-EVALUATION

CPT 78740: Voiding Cystourethrogram for Ureteral Reflux Evaluation

CPT-78761-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-TESTICULAR-IMAGING-RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL

CPT 78761: Nuclear Medicine Testicular Imaging with Radiopharmaceutical Injection

CPT-78799-DIAGNOSTIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-GENITOURINARY

CPT 78799: Unlisted Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedure, Genitourinary

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician interpretation/report separate from the technical imaging.
`TC`	Technical component	Use when billing only the technical portion (equipment, technologist, radiopharmaceutical).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure was started but terminated for patient safety or other valid reasons.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Data not available in the input.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not available in the input.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use if an unplanned repeat interventional imaging procedure is required under the same encounter.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon is needed and documented (rare for this imaging study).
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimum assistant is documented.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery	Use when advanced practice clinician provided documented assistant services.
`22`	Increased procedural service	Use when the procedure requires substantially greater effort or time than usual and documentation supports it.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the full procedure was not performed; documentation must justify the reduction.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080P0200X	Pediatric Radiology	Common interpreting specialists for pediatric radionuclide cystography and reflux studies.
2085R0201X	Diagnostic Radiology	Radiologists frequently perform and interpret these nuclear medicine studies.
208N00000X	Nuclear Medicine	Nuclear medicine physicians interpret dynamic radionuclide bladder studies and provide reports.
2084P0800X	Urology	Urologists order and may correlate results for surgical planning in reflux or bladder dysfunction.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`N39.0`	Urinary tract infection, site not specified	Indication for reflux evaluation in patients with recurrent UTIs.
`N13.7`	Reflux nephropathy	Directly related to evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux and bladder-related functional defects.
`N32.9`	Disorder of bladder, unspecified	Broad category for bladder dysfunction assessed with radionuclide cystography.
`N31.9`	Neuromuscular dysfunction of bladder, unspecified	Relevant when bladder emptying dysfunction or neurogenic bladder is suspected.
`Q62.0`	Congenital absence of bladder or bladder exstrophy	Congenital anomalies of the urinary tract that may warrant functional imaging (selected congenital codes pertinent to pediatric urology).

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`78740`	Intravenous renal scintigraphy; including an angioscintigraphic phase when performed	May be performed alongside to evaluate renal drainage and differential renal function when reflux is suspected.
`78750`	Diuretic renal scintigraphy (e.g., Lasix renal scan)	Used when assessment of obstructive uropathy or drainage is needed in conjunction with bladder functional assessment.
`74400`	Fluoroscopic cystography, voiding (including voiding radiographs)	Alternative or complementary study to evaluate vesicoureteral reflux with anatomic detail; may be performed instead of or after radionuclide study.
`51701`	Complex uroflowmetry with pressure flow studies including cystometrogram when performed	Performed by urology to evaluate bladder function and may follow radionuclide functional assessment.
`51798`	Bladder catheterization, single or multiple	Performed as part of study set-up to instill radiotracer into the bladder prior to imaging.

CPT 78700: Kidney Scan, Renal Structure and Function

CPT-78701-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-KIDNEY-IMAGING

CPT 78701: Kidney Scan, Nuclear Medicine

CPT-78707-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE

CPT 78707: Kidney Scan, Cortical and Functional Imaging

CPT-78708-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

CPT 78708: Kidney Scan, Renal Nuclear Imaging

CPT-78709-KIDNEY-SCAN-RENAL-NUCLEAR-IMAGING

CPT 78709: Kidney Scan, Renal Structure and Function

CPT-78725-KIDNEY-SCAN-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-RENAL-IMAGING

CPT 78725: Kidney Scan, Nuclear Medicine Renal Imaging

CPT-78740-VOIDING-CYSTOURETHROGRAM-URETERAL-REFLUX-EVALUATION

CPT 78740: Voiding Cystourethrogram for Ureteral Reflux Evaluation

CPT-78761-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-TESTICULAR-IMAGING-RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL

CPT 78761: Nuclear Medicine Testicular Imaging with Radiopharmaceutical Injection

CPT-78799-DIAGNOSTIC-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-GENITOURINARY

CPT 78799: Unlisted Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Procedure, Genitourinary

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 78730: Ureteral Reflux Study with Bladder Function Radioisotope Evaluation

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 78730: Ureteral Reflux Study with Bladder Function Radioisotope Evaluation

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References