CPT code 78801 represents multi-day or multi-area diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging using a gamma–emitting radiotracer to localize tumors, inflammatory processes, or radiopharmaceutical distribution. The code covers either imaging of two or more anatomic areas performed in one or more days, or imaging of a single area across two or more days. Included procedures may also incorporate vascular flow and blood pool studies to assess cardiac pumping function. Nationally, this code is relevant for hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and nuclear medicine practices that perform complex radionuclide studies requiring extended imaging protocols.

Key payers in scope for typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect an overview of the clinical context for use of the code, common billing and service characteristics, and payer coverage considerations where available. The publication outlines expected sites of service and the clinical scenarios that commonly drive use of the code, such as tumor localization and functional cardiac assessments. Data not available in the input will be identified as such; the focus is on the code’s clinical meaning, service setting, and relevance to payers and providers across the United States.