CPT codes serve as standardized five-digit identifiers used across the healthcare system to precisely describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. This universal coding language ensures consistent communication and billing practices between doctors, hospitals, and insurance payers. CPT 71260 is a specific code defining a particular diagnostic imaging procedure for the chest area.
What CPT 71260 Represents
The CPT 71260 code identifies a Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the thorax, or chest area, performed with the use of a contrast material. A CT scan utilizes specialized X-ray equipment to create detailed, cross-sectional images of the body, offering greater clarity of internal structures compared to a standard X-ray. The anatomical scope includes the lungs, heart, major blood vessels, mediastinum (the central compartment of the chest), and the bony chest wall. The inclusion of intravenous contrast is the defining feature of CPT 71260, differentiating it from a non-contrast CT chest scan (CPT 71250).
The Use of Intravenous Contrast
The contrast material is typically an iodine-based compound, administered directly into the patient’s vein via an intravenous (IV) line. Once injected, the contrast travels through the bloodstream, temporarily increasing the density difference between blood vessels and surrounding soft tissues. This enhancement helps delineate vascular structures and highlight areas of active blood flow, often seen in tumors, abscesses, or inflammatory processes.
The scan must be precisely timed to capture images during the appropriate phase of contrast circulation, such as the arterial phase.
Before administration, screening is conducted to ensure patient safety, including checking kidney function, since the kidneys are responsible for clearing the iodinated contrast from the body. Patients are also screened for allergies to iodine or previous adverse reactions to contrast material.
Common Medical Reasons for the Scan
Ordering a CT of the thorax with contrast is medically justified when a high level of detail is required to evaluate conditions involving blood vessels or soft tissue structures.
Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolism
One of the most frequent reasons is the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), where contrast is used to visualize the pulmonary arteries for blood clots. This specific application is often referred to as a CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA).
Cancer Staging and Aortic Conditions
The scan is also ordered for the staging or monitoring of various cancers, as the contrast helps distinguish cancerous masses and lymph nodes from normal tissue. Conditions affecting the aorta, such as an aortic dissection or aneurysm, require contrast to clearly map the structure and integrity of the vessel wall.
Diagnosis of Infections
This scan also helps in the diagnosis of complex chest infections, such as an empyema or abscess, by showing tissue reaction and fluid collections.
Preparation and Procedure Experience
Patients scheduled for a CT chest scan with intravenous contrast are typically instructed not to eat solid foods for about four hours before the examination. This fasting requirement is a safety measure to reduce the risk of complications from the contrast injection. Patients are encouraged to continue taking their regular medications with sips of water.
The procedure begins with the placement of an intravenous line, usually in the arm, for the contrast injection. The patient will lie on a motorized table that slides into the center of the CT scanner.
When the contrast is injected, it is common for patients to experience a temporary sensation of warmth or flushing throughout the body and sometimes a metallic taste in the mouth. The entire scanning process is relatively quick, often taking between 15 and 30 minutes. After the scan, patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the contrast material out of their system.