ProcedureThe term radiology can refer to any number of methods used by a doctor to perform diagnostic tests. Therefore, reading the entire description will prove extremely helpful in finding the appropriate codes. For example, if a patient has undergone an angiography, read the entire procedure to find out whether it involves the patient's abdomen, arm, or chest. If it's the chest, don't use the first code you see. Read the entire code description. The first code under angiography, chest is “71275,” which describes the procedure as “computed tomographic angiography, chest (noncoronary), with contrast material(s), including noncontrast images, if performed, and image postprocessing.” The other code under angiography, chest is “71555,” which describes the procedures as “Magnetic resonance angiography, chest (excluding myocardium), with or without contrast material(s)” (“Current Procedural Terminology;” American Medical Association; Fourth Edition). Manual of current procedural terminology (CPT). Detailed guidance on the professional, technical, and overall components of a procedure is included in the radiology section of the CPT manual. For example, if a patient goes to a clinic to have an x-ray, which includes their own radiologist, technician, x-ray machines, and the results are read and interpreted in the same clinic, this would be coded as global. But if the x-rays were taken to another facility to be read and interpreted, only the professional components would be flagged for medical services. Another helpful tip: understand that sometimes you need to use code from another section to fully describe the procedure. This is called component or combination coding. For example, when the radiologist injects or deposits material necessary to perform a procedure, a surgical section CPT code must be used. Save time and be resourceful by marking where to look for codes in the subsections of the CPT manual. Some of these subsections are as follows: diagnostic imaging, mammography, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine.