Question

question 3 (2.5 points)

a patient presents to the physician with stiffness and numbness in the neck, shoulders, and arms. the physician orders an mri of the cervical spine, without and with contrast, to rule out cervical spinal stenosis. code the mri.

72127
72020
72141, 72142
72156

Explanation:

Identify the procedure and anatomical site

Using the CPT Coding knowledge point, we identify that the physician ordered an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine.

Determine the contrast administration details

The documentation specifies that the MRI of the cervical spine was performed "without and with contrast" (often referred to as "without contrast, followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences").

Evaluate the CPT code options

Using the Spine X-ray Coding and general radiology coding knowledge points, we compare the standard CPT codes for spinal MRI:

• 72141: Magnetic resonance (eg, proton imaging) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; without contrast material
• 72142: Magnetic resonance (eg, proton imaging) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; with contrast material(s)
• 72156: Magnetic resonance (eg, proton imaging) imaging, spinal canal and contents, cervical; without contrast material(s), followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences

Select the correct code

The procedure "without and with contrast" matches the description of CPT code 72156.

Answer:

• (A) 72127
• (B) 72020
• (C) 72141, 72142
• (D) 72156 (Correct answer)