Exam Details - CT/Computed Tomography
Codes, Description, Location Rules, Prep and Additional Rules
Available at:
DC, Chevy Chase, and Sterling
Not Available at:
Bethesda, Fairfax, Germantown, Potomac, or Arlington
Contrast Exams:
**Always ask if WITH, WITHOUT, or BOTH!**
AS NEEDED or PRN = WITH CONTRAST
No CT Contrast Exams can be added AFTER 3PM for the NEXT DAY UNLESS APPROVED BY THE CT DEPARTMENT. If the CT department cannot be reached, any CT Contrast exam should be scheduled a minimum of 2 days out. If a doctors office calls after 4PM to request an urgent CT Contrast appointment for the next day, an email must be sent to Leadership for the nurses/CT techs.
Patient with any Allergy - Contrast Exams:
Schedule 3 business days out and document allergy in allergy field (5 business days if scheduling CT for pre-auth timing included)!
Patients with Allergy to Iodine - Contrast Exams:
Cannot be seen at Washington Radiology, please refer back to referring physician.
Patients with a history of kidney problems, diabetic,
taking metformin or metformin type of drug, or over the age of 60 - Contrast Exams:
Fax creatinine levels to office before appointment.
BARIUM:
Patient must bring written order with when picking up Barium Contrast prior to exam.
Barium may be picked up from 8am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday at these locations:
DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Park Potomac, Fairfax, Sterling & Germantown.
Note: Barium is not needed for all exams! See prep notes.
AM APPOINTMENTS: AT 9PM THE EVENING PRIOR TO THE EXAM, DRINK 1/2 BOTTLE OF BARIUM. FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO THE EXAM DRINK ONLY CLEAR LIQUIDS. TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE EXAM DRINK 1/2 BOTTLE OF BARIUM.
PM APPOINTMENTS: AT 8AM THE DAY OF THE EXAM, DRINK 1/2 BOTTLE OF BARIUM. FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO THE EXAM DRINK ONLY CLEAR LIQUIDS. TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE EXAM, DRINK 1/2 BOTTLE OF BARIUM.
Additional Notes:
Blood Thinners - OK to continue taking with CT contrast
ANY Coronary CT - WR does NOT perform! (except Cardiac Scoring)
SUGGESTED CLEAR LIQUIDS:
WATER, COFFEE OR TEA (WITH SUGAR BUT WITHOUT CREAM/MILK), CLEAR SOFT DRINKS, CLEAR FRUIT JUICES. NO DAIRY PRODUCTS, NO SOLID FOOD, NO JELLO.
See Below for further location rules.
| Exam Code | Description - CPT Code | Reason for Exam | Location and Scheduling Rules | Prep and Additional Notes |
| CA1 | Abdomen W/ Contrast | DO NOT USE CODE! Always use CAP Code! | ||
| CA2 | Abdomen W/Out Contrast | DO NOT USE CODE! Always use CAP Code! | ||
| CA3 | Abdomen W/ & W/Out Contrast | DO NOT USE CODE! Always use CAP Code! | ||
| CAA1 |  CT Angio Abdomen w/ Contrast | Abdominal aorta, mesentric arteries, renal arteries | DC & STERLING ONLY! | NO BARIUM! |
| CAAP1 | CT Angio Abdomen & Pelvis w/ Contrast | Abdominal aorta, mesentric arteries, renal arteries, | DC & STERLING ONLY! NOTE: DIEP FLAP at DC ONLY! | NO BARIUM! |
| CACH1 | CT Angio Non-Coronary Chest w/ Contrast | Thoracic aorta, internal mammary arteries, P.E. Studies | DC & STERLING ONLY! | NO BARIUM! PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam |
| CACH1 & CAAP1 | CT Angio DIEP Flap w/ Contrast | Breast Cancer Patient, deep inferior epigastric arteries | DC ONLY! | NO BARIUM! PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam |
| CAN1 | CT Angio Neck w/ Contrast | Carotids | DC & STERLING ONLY! | NO BARIUM! PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam |
| CAPE1 | CT Angio Pelvis w/ Contrast | Iliac Arteries ONLY | DC & STERLING ONLY! For Iliac arteries ONLY We DO NOT perform the exam if reason is Prostate, Prostate Arteries or planning for Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) | NO BARIUM! PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam |
| CAC1 | Abdomen AND Chest WITH Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam | |
| CAC2 | Abdomen AND Chest WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM | |
| CAC3 | Abdomen AND Chest With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam | |
| CAP1 | Abdomen AND Pelvic WITH Contrast | Gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam NO BARIUM! REASON OF HEMATURIA, FLANK PAIN, RULE OUT KIDNEY STONE PREP, PACREAS PROTOCOL or ADRENAL GLAND: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Do NOT empty bladder 2 hours prior to appointment until technologist instructs you to use the restroom. |
| CAP2 | Abdomen AND Pelvic WITHOUT Contrast | Gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys NOTE: CT-RENAL use CAP2 | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM NO BARIUM! REASON OF HEMATURIA, FLANK PAIN, RULE OUT KIDNEY STONE, RENAL PREP, PANCREAS PROTOCOL or ADRENAL GLAND: Do NOT empty bladder 2 hours prior to appointment until technologist instructs you to use the restroom. |
| CAP3 | Abdomen AND Pelvic With and Without Contrast | Gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys NOTE: CT-UROGRAM use CAP3 | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam NO BARIUM! REASON OF HEMATURIA, FLANK PAIN, RULE OUT KIDNEY STONE, UROGRAM PREP, PANCREAS PROTOCOL or ADRENAL GLAND: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Do NOT empty bladder 2 hours prior to appointment until technologist instructs you to use the restroom. |
| CAPC1 | Abdomen AND Pelvic and Chest WITH Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam | |
| CAPC2 | Abdomen AND Pelvic and Chest WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM | |
| CAPC3 | Abdomen AND Pelvic and Chest With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam | |
| CC1 | Chest WITH Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CC2 | Chest WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CC3 | Chest With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CCS | Cardiac Scoring AKA: Calcium Scoring or Electron Beam CT (EBCT) | High blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart disease | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) NOTE: No patients under the age of 16 | Exam is NOT covered by insurance. Patient will need to pay $250. PREP: No caffeinated products 24 hours before exam. No exercise the day of the exam. Resting heartrate must be less than 75bpm. All CCS exams have to be scheduled individually with the payor as Self Pay, unless the patient has Medicare. Insurance information will be entered for Medicare patients scheduled for a CCS exam. If patient has other appointments for the same day, they can have the insurance information listed but all CCS will be entered as Self Pay. (UPDATED 10/09/23) |
| CDM | Dental Mapping | CHEVY CHASE ONLY with Dr. Lande | ||
| CEL1 | Extremity Lower WITH Contrast | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | ||
| CEL2 | Extremity Lower WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase MAKO Protocol, for knee or hip, schedule at STRL or DC ONLY! | No Prep | |
| CEL3 | Extremity Lower With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CEU1 | Extremity Upper WITH Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CEU2 | Extremity Upper WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CEU3 | Extremity Upper With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CH1 | Head WITH Contrast | Brain | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. |
| CH2 | Head WITHOUT Contrast | Brain | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep |
| CH3 | Head With and Without Contrast | Brain | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. |
| CIVP1 | Abdomen AND Pelvic and IVP | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Also, instruct patient to NOT empty their bladder 2 hours prior to appointment until technologist instructs you to use the restroom. | |
| CI1 | Internal Auditory Canal WITH Contrast Also known as: IAC or Temporal Bone | Inner Ear Canal | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. |
| CI2 | Internal Auditory Canal WITHOUT Contrast Also known as: IAC or Temporal Bone | Inner Ear Canal | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep |
| CMAN | Mandible WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| Maxillofacial | Clarify on exam type. Could be Orbits, Sinus, Mandible, or Teeth | |||
| CN1 | Neck WITH Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CN2 | Neck WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CN3 | Neck With and Without Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. | |
| CO1 | Orbits WITH Contrast | Eyes | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. |
| CO2 | Orbits WITHOUT Contrast | Eyes | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep |
| CO3 | Orbits With and Without Contrast | Eyes | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. |
| CPIT | Pituitary WITH Contrast | CALL CENTER and Check with CT Tech before scheduling appointment | ||
| CP1 | Pelvic WITH Contrast | Female organs, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam REASON/VIEW BONY PELVIS, SI JOINTS, SACRUM, COCCYX, ANY BONE ANATOMY IN PELVIS: NO BARIUM! Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Call CT Tech to Verify! |
| CP2 | Pelvic WITHOUT Contrast | Female organs, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM REASON/VIEW BONY PELVIS, SI JOINTS, SACRUM, COCCYX, ANY BONE ANATOMY IN PELVIS: NO BARIUM! Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Call CT Tech to Verify! |
| CP3 | Pelvic With and Without Contrast | Female organs, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | PREP: BARIUM & Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam REASON/VIEW BONY PELVIS, SI JOINTS, SACRUM, COCCYX, ANY BONE ANATOMY IN PELVIS: NO BARIUM! Clear liquids only for 4 hours before exam. Call CT Tech to Verify! |
| CSC2 | Spine Cervical WITHOUT Contrast | Neck | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep |
| CSL2 | Spine Lumbar WITHOUT Contrast | Back | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep |
| CSS | Sinus Screen | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CS1 | Sinus WITH Contrast Maxillofacial | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep | |
| CS2 | Sinus WITHOUT Contrast (Full Series) Maxillofacial | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep | |
| CS3 | Sinus WITH and WITHOUT Contrast Maxillofacial | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep | |
| CSG2 | Scanogram | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CSTR | Sinus / Stryker | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CSBL | Sinus / Brainlab | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CSMT | Sinus / Medtronics | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase | No Prep | |
| CST2 | Spine Thoracic WITHOUT Contrast | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | No Prep | |
| CTLS | Thorax / Lung Scan | DC, Sterling, or Chevy Chase (Sterling will offer Saturday appts beginning 2/13/22) | Exam may not be covered by insurance. Will bill insurance first, but if denied exam cost is $255. | |
| CVCD | Virtual Colonoscopy Diagnostic (NOT REQUIRED TO CHECK THE PHYSICIAN MODALITY LIST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE) | SCHEDULE WITH DR. STEEVER OR DR. CHU ONLY DC, CHEVY CHASE OR STERLING NOTE: Cannot do regular colonoscopy plus another diagnosis (I.E. Blood thinners, anticoagulants, twisted colon, blood in stool, etc.) Exam can only be scheduled in the morning BEFORE 9:30am. | Medicare will NOT cover a diagnostic VC unless 2 reasons for exam. Exam cost is $800. MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRE PRE-AUTHORIZATION Prep: Please advise patient to pick up barium and instructions for exam at least 4 days prior to the appointment. At that time, a clinical team member will discuss the prep in full. | |
| CVCS | Virtual Colonoscopy Screen (NOT REQUIRED TO CHECK THE PHYSICIAN MODALITY LIST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE) | SCHEDULE WITH DR. STEEVER OR DR. CHU ONLY DC, CHEVY CHASE OR STERLING NOTE: Cannot do regular colonoscopy plus another diagnosis (I.E. Blood thinners, anticoagulants, twisted colon, blood in stool, etc.) Exam can only be scheduled in the morning BEFORE 9:30am. | Medicare will NOT cover a screening VC. Exam cost is $800. MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRE PRE-AUTHORIZATION Prep: Please advise patient to pick up barium and instructions for exam at least 4 days prior to the appointment. At that time, a clinical team member will discuss the prep in full. |
EDITED: 11/22/2024
