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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-78814-pet-ct-tumor-localization-metabolic-evaluation
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    CPT 78814: PET/CT Tumor Localization and Metabolic Imaging

    Medicare pays $101 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78814 describes a combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography procedure (PET/CT) that fuses metabolic and anatomic imaging to localize tumors and assess metabolic activity of cancer prior to initiating treatment; service type: diagnostic hybrid PET/CT imaging; 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

    Progress1 / 7

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with a recent biopsy-confirmed non-small cell lung carcinoma is referred for staging prior to initiation of systemic therapy. The oncology team orders a combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography study to evaluate primary tumor metabolic activity, identify regional nodal involvement, and detect distant metastatic disease. The patient presents to an outpatient imaging center where technologists screen for contraindications, obtain intravenous access for radiotracer administration, and document medications and blood glucose. After radiotracer uptake time, the nuclear medicine physician supervises imaging acquisition on a hybrid PET/CT scanner, including low-dose CT for attenuation correction and diagnostic-quality CT when indicated. Images are fused and interpreted by the nuclear medicine or radiology physician, who reports standardized uptake values, anatomic localization of hypermetabolic lesions, and compares with prior imaging. The report is routed to the referring medical oncologist and entered into the electronic medical record for treatment planning and authorization of therapies.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78814Positron emission tomography (PET) with concurrently acquired computed tomography (CT) for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; whole body, baselineThis is the primary fused PET/CT study used for staging and metabolic-anatomic localization of malignancy.
    78815PET with concurrently acquired CT for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; limited area (e.g., brain, heart)Used when a targeted PET/CT of a specific region is ordered instead of whole-body imaging.
    78816PET with concurrently acquired diagnostic CT with contrast for attenuation correction and anatomical localization; whole bodyPerformed when diagnostic-quality contrast-enhanced CT is acquired during the PET/CT for comprehensive anatomic assessment.
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (e.g., radiotracer administration)Represents the administration of radiopharmaceuticals in some billing contexts; facility billing often includes radiotracer in technical component instead.
    74177Computed tomography, abdomen and pelvis; with contrast, with or without contrast materialA dedicated diagnostic CT of abdomen/pelvis may be obtained in conjunction or separately for detailed anatomic assessment.

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    208000000X
    207RC0000X
    163WP0808X
    207RH0000X
    207ND0101X
    246X00000X
    207RH0005X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C16.9Malignant neoplasm of stomach, unspecified
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C21.0Malignant neoplasm of anus, unspecified
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C45.9Mesothelioma, unspecified
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    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-78813-WHOLE-BODY-PET

    CPT 78813: PET Whole Body Scan

    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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