Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

Which code would be assigned for a CT of the head without contrast materials for a patient experiencing headaches?

1. 70450, 784.0

2. 70450, 786.50

3. 70460, 784.0

4. 70460, 786.05

The correct answer is: 70450, 784.0

The correct code for a CT of the head without contrast materials in a patient experiencing headaches is 70450, along with the appropriate diagnosis code. When coding for imaging studies, it's important to choose the correct CPT code that corresponds to the procedure performed. The CPT code 70450 specifically denotes a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head, which is performed without the use of contrast material. This aligns perfectly with the scenario described, where the patient is undergoing a CT scan due to headaches, indicating the need for a clear interpretation of potential causes such as intracranial anomalies or other neurological issues. The accompanying diagnosis codes relate to the patient's symptoms. In this case, 784.0 (headache) is an appropriate code to describe the patient's condition triggering the need for the CT scan. Utilizing this code alongside 70450 supports clear communication about why the procedure was conducted, reflecting the necessity based on the patient's presenting symptoms. The other options incorporate codes for CT scans that involve contrast (70460), which is incorrect for this scenario since the requirement was specifically for a scan without contrast. Additionally, the diagnosis codes in the other choices do not reflect the common terms used to describe headaches in the ICD-10 coding system compared to option A. Thus