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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-78813-whole-body-pet
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    CPT 78813: PET Whole Body Scan

    Medicare pays $91 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78813 describes a diagnostic whole-body PET (positron emission tomography) scan that produces three-dimensional images of metabolic and functional processes to detect tumor cells and assess systemic malignancy; service type: diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging (PET whole body); typical site of service: outpatient imaging center or hospital radiology/nuclear medicine department.

    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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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a history of non-small cell lung cancer presents for staging and assessment of suspected metastatic disease. The patient was referred by an oncologist following new bone pain and rising tumor markers. The nuclear medicine team coordinates the visit: verification of indication and allergies, review of recent chemotherapy and glucose level for FDG studies, IV placement for radiotracer injection, and a waiting uptake period before imaging. The PET whole-body acquisition covers skull base to mid-thigh (or whole-body when clinically indicated), with image reconstruction and interpretation by a board-certified nuclear medicine physician. Results are reported to the referring oncologist and the multidisciplinary tumor board to guide staging, treatment planning, and response assessment. Typical sites of service include hospital-based outpatient imaging centers, freestanding PET/CT centers, and hospital inpatient radiology departments.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78813Positron emission tomography (PET) whole body; for detection/evaluation of tumors and metastasesPrimary CPT for whole-body PET imaging used for staging, restaging, and surveillance.
    78814Positron emission tomography (PET) of single areaPerformed when a focused PET exam of a single body region is indicated instead of whole-body imaging.
    78816Positron emission tomography (PET) tumor/whole body with concurrently acquired CT for attenuation correction and anatomical localization, when performedCommonly performed as PET/CT combining functional PET with diagnostic or low-dose CT for attenuation correction and localization.
    70450CT head/brain without contrastMay be performed when dedicated CT of the head is required in addition to PET for specific intracranial indications.
    77012Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (nonvascular)Occasionally paired when PET findings prompt image-guided biopsy or intervention; documents guidance procedure.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    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…
    27Modifier 27 indicates a separate, subsequent outpatient hospital E/M service provided to the same patient on the same date by a different provider in a hospital outpatient setting. It is a…- Use modifier -27 on facility (hospital outpatient/ambulatory service center) claims to report a subsequent, separate, and distinct outpatient E/M service provided to the same patient on the same…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    208D00000X
    2084P0800X
    174400000X
    363L00000X
    207ZB0001X
    2471M2300X
    261QH0100X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C16.9Malignant neoplasm of stomach, unspecified
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C44.90Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, unspecified
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C56.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary
    C61Malignant neoplasm of prostate
    C64.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified kidney, except renal pelvis

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    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-78804-MULTIDAY-WHOLE-BODY-NUCLEAR-IMAGING-GAMMA-TRACER

    CPT 78804: Whole-Body Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Multi-Day

    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-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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