What is CPT Code 76700?: Understanding Abdominal Ultrasounds






What is CPT Code 76700?: Understanding Abdominal Ultrasounds

CPT code 76700 refers to a type of medical test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs in your abdomen. It’s like taking a peek inside your belly without making any cuts. CPT 76700 represents “Ultrasound, abdominal, real time with image documentation; complete.”

Procedure Explanation:

This procedure, known as a complete abdominal ultrasound, involves moving a handheld device over the skin of your abdomen to capture real-time images of your internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. This test is non-invasive, meaning it doesn’t require any surgery or needles. It includes examining all major organs in the abdomen but does not cover any add-on procedures that might require additional preparation or equipment, like using a special dye.

Common Names:

  1. Complete Abdominal Ultrasound
  2. Full Abdomen Ultrasound
  3. Comprehensive Abdominal Scan

Relative Value Units (RVU):

The RVUs associated with this code are 0.81.

How This Procedure Appears:

  • Operating Room Schedule Name: Whole abdomen ultrasound
  • Surgical Consent Form Name: Complete ultrasound of abdominal organs

Typical Patients and Diagnoses:

This procedure is commonly used for patients experiencing symptoms like persistent stomach pain, unexplained swelling, or abnormal blood tests related to liver function. For instance, someone having chronic pain on the right side of their abdomen might undergo this test to check for gallstones or liver problems.

Associated ICD-10 Codes:

  • R10.9: This code is for unspecified abdominal pain, which could mean any undetermined pain in the belly area.
  • K76.9: This code relates to liver disease that’s not specified, meaning issues with the liver that haven’t been fully diagnosed.
  • N20.0: This code covers kidney stones, which are hard deposits that can cause intense pain and might require an ultrasound for detection.

Summary

In summary, code 76700 describes a complete ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. Typical ICD-10 codes associated with 76700 include R10.9 (unspecified abdominal pain) and K76.9 (unspecified liver disease).


Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. “CPT” and CPT Codes are registered trademarks of the American Medical Association. HCPCS codes are managed by Medicare and are not subject to copyright.


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