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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ProceduresCPT cpt-78832-spect-ct-multi-site-single-day-nuclear-imaging
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    CPT 78832: SPECT/CT for Tumor or Tracer Localization

    Medicare pays $551 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 78832 describes a single‑day SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) nuclear medicine study with concurrent CT performed to localize tumors, inflammatory processes, or radiotracer distribution, with vascular flow and blood pool imaging included if performed; the service type is diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging with SPECT/CT, typically provided in an outpatient imaging center or hospital imaging department for same‑day multi‑area or separate acquisitions (for example, imaging two anatomically distinct regions or lung ventilation and perfusion acquisitions on one day).

    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 prostate cancer presents with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and focal bone pain in the pelvis and left hip. The referring oncologist requests localization of suspected metastatic disease and assessment of tracer uptake to guide therapy. The nuclear medicine department schedules a same-day single-session SPECT with concurrent CT imaging to evaluate multiple sites (pelvis and hips) and to correlate functional radiotracer distribution with anatomic CT localization. The patient arrives after tracer administration; technologists perform vascular flow and blood pool imaging if indicated, then acquire SPECT images of the pelvis and hips with low-dose CT for attenuation correction and anatomic correlation. A nuclear medicine physician reviews and interprets the fused SPECT/CT images, documents radiopharmaceutical administered, sites imaged, findings, and impression, and signs the report. Results are communicated to the referring oncologist for staging and treatment planning.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    78830Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, single study, for distribution and localization of radiopharmaceutical(s)Alternative nuclear functional imaging modality that may be ordered instead of or complementary to SPECT/CT for certain tracers.
    78815Tumor imaging; planar imaging, limited or follow-up studyPlanar nuclear imaging that may be performed before or after SPECT/CT for comparison or limited follow-up.
    74177CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast, diagnostic; may be performed as separate diagnostic CT if additional anatomic detail is required beyond low-dose CT used for attenuation correctionMay be ordered when diagnostic-quality CT is needed in addition to low-dose CT acquired with SPECT/CT.
    96372Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance)Used when administration of radiopharmaceutical or other injectable agents requires separate documentation for billing pharmacologic administration.

    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    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 CodeSpecialtyNotes
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    261QA0006XAmbulatory Fertility FacilityA fertility facility, which may be licensed, registered, or certified in some states, that is not hospital-based, where services are provided at a fi…
    207RT0003XTransplant Hepatology PhysicianAn internist with special knowledge and the skill required of a gastroenterologist to care for patients prior to and following hepatic transplantation…
    1835I0206XInfectious Diseases PharmacistA licensed pharmacist who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in the use of microbiology and pharmacology to develop, implement, and moni…
    242T00000XPerfusionistA perfusionist operates extracorporeal circulation and autotransfusion equipment during any medical situation where it is necessary to support or temp…
    125K00000XAdvanced Practice Dental TherapistAn Advanced Practice Dental Therapist is:<br/>(1) A dental therapist who has completed additional training beyond basic dental therapy education and p…

    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
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    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-78814-PET-CT-TUMOR-LOCALIZATION-METABOLIC-EVALUATION

    CPT 78814: PET/CT Tumor Localization and Metabolic Imaging

    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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