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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-78804-multiday-whole-body-nuclear-imaging-gamma-tracer
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    CPT 78804: Whole-Body Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Multi-Day

    Medicare pays $391 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78804 describes whole-body nuclear medicine imaging performed over two or more days using a gamma-emitting radioactive tracer to diagnose and localize tumors, inflammatory processes, or to evaluate radiopharmaceutical distribution; the service includes vascular flow and blood pool imaging when performed and is typically provided as an outpatient diagnostic imaging study in nuclear medicine departments or ambulatory imaging centers.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a history of metastatic neuroendocrine tumor presents for diagnostic whole-body nuclear medicine imaging using a gamma-emitting radiotracer to localize disease and assess biodistribution over multiple days. The referring oncologist requests imaging to identify primary or recurrent tumor foci, evaluate for somatostatin receptor–positive lesions, and guide therapy planning. The patient arrives at an outpatient nuclear medicine suite on day 1 for tracer injection and initial imaging (planar and SPECT as indicated), returns for delayed whole-body images on day 2, and possibly day 3 when tracer kinetics require extended imaging. The clinical workflow includes: scheduling and preauthorization; verification of patient identity and indication; radiopharmaceutical preparation and dose calculation by the nuclear pharmacy; tracer administration and documentation of lot number and activity; vascular flow and blood pool imaging if cardiac function assessment is concurrently indicated; acquisition of whole-body planar and SPECT/CT images on sequential days; image reconstruction and interpretation by a board-certified nuclear medicine physician; generation of a diagnostic report including anatomic localization and comparison with prior studies; and transmission of results to the referring oncologist. Typical sites of service are an outpatient hospital-based nuclear medicine department or an ambulatory imaging center equipped for multi-day radiopharmaceutical administration and whole-body gamma camera imaging.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78803Tumor imaging, whole body, single day (using a gamma camera), planar and/or SPECT; single day imagingSingle-day counterpart to 78804; used when whole-body imaging is completed within one day rather than over two or more days
    78805Tumor imaging, whole body; SPECT onlyUsed when SPECT acquisition alone is performed as part of localization and may supplement or replace planar whole-body imaging
    78815Vascular flow and blood pool imaging; multiple areasVascular flow and blood pool imaging codes may be reported when dedicated vascular/cardiac flow studies are performed in conjunction with whole-body imaging; note that limited cardiac flow included with 78804 is not separately billable unless a distinct study is performed
    71045Chest radiograph, single viewCommon adjunct imaging performed for staging correlation or pre-procedure evaluation when radiographic correlation is needed
    78800Transmission attenuation correction and similar support services — not commonly separately reported hereReferenced when additional hardware/software services are required for SPECT/CT image processing

    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…
    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…
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2080P0206X
    207RH0000X
    363L00000X
    2255R0406X
    364SC1501X
    385HR2050X
    2085H0002X
    207VB0002X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-78800-PLANAR-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-SINGLE-AREA-TUMOR-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78800: Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Single Area

    CPT-78801-MULTI-DAY-MULTI-AREA-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78801: Multi-Day/Multi-Area Nuclear Medicine Tumor Localization

    CPT-78802-WHOLE-BODY-NUCLEAR-MEDICINE-IMAGING

    CPT 78802: Whole-Body Nuclear Medicine Imaging for Tumor/Inflammation Localization

    CPT-78803-SPECT-SINGLE-AREA-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78803: Single-Day SPECT Tumor/Tracer Localization

    CPT-78808-RADIOTRACER-INJECTION-GAMMA-PROBE-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78808: Radioguided Localization with Intravenous Radiotracer

    CPT-78811-TARGETED-PET-LOCALIZED-BODY-REGION

    CPT 78811: PET, limited area imaging

    CPT-78812-FDG-PET-BODY-IMAGING-FOR-ONCOLOGIC-EVALUATION

    CPT 78812: FDG PET Imaging for Detection of Malignant Tumors

    CPT-78813-WHOLE-BODY-PET

    CPT 78813: PET Whole Body Scan

    CPT-78814-PET-CT-TUMOR-LOCALIZATION-METABOLIC-EVALUATION

    CPT 78814: PET/CT Tumor Localization and Metabolic Imaging

    CPT-78815-PET-CT-TUMOR-IMAGING-ANATOMICAL-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 78815: PET/CT Tumor Imaging with Anatomical Localization

    Showing 1–10 of 16

    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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