Summary & Overview
CPT 93574: Pulmonary Venography During Cardiac Catheterization
CPT code 93574 represents selective pulmonary venography performed as part of a cardiac catheterization procedure. The service involves catheter-directed contrast injection into a pulmonary vein with fluoroscopic imaging, physician supervision, image interpretation, and a formal report. This diagnostic procedure is important for evaluating pulmonary venous anatomy and flow in patients undergoing invasive cardiac evaluation and can affect procedural planning and downstream management.
Key national payers relevant to coverage and reimbursement practices include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Coverage policies and prior authorization requirements can vary by payer and clinical indication.
Readers will find a concise clinical description, expected site-of-service context, and the typical service type for 93574. The publication also summarizes payer coverage scope, common modifiers used with the code, and the clinical context in which the procedure is performed. Where available, benchmarking information and policy summaries are provided to help clinical administrators and billing professionals understand coding, documentation, and payer expectations. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 93574 describes selective pulmonary venography performed during a cardiac catheterization. The provider advances a catheter into a pulmonary vein, injects radiopaque contrast to visualize the vein and assess blood flow, supervises and interprets the imaging, and produces a report of findings.
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Service type: Diagnostic vascular imaging during cardiac catheterization
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Typical site of service: Hospital catheterization laboratory or outpatient cardiac catheterization facility
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 67-year-old patient with progressive exertional dyspnea, hypoxemia, and suspected pulmonary venous obstruction is scheduled for diagnostic evaluation during an elective cardiac catheterization. The interventional cardiology team performs left heart catheterization and selectively advances a catheter into a pulmonary vein to inject radiographic contrast, acquiring fluoroscopic images to define pulmonary venous anatomy and assess flow dynamics. The procedure is performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory under conscious sedation or monitored anesthesia care. The attending interventional cardiologist supervises catheter placement, manages hemodynamics, interprets the angiographic images, documents findings in a formal report, and communicates results to the referring cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgery when appropriate. Typical indications include pulmonary vein stenosis after prior ablation, evaluation of pulmonary venous anatomy prior to or after pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation, unexplained pulmonary edema suspected to be venous in origin, or preoperative assessment for lung transplantation or complex cardiac surgery.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier specified (standard) | Use when no special modifier applies; report the procedure as performed. |
22 |