In the lateral position, the view is taken from the side. In the AP position, the patient is required to stand up, and the view is taken from the front. In general, there are three main views that are taken, and the doctor may order an additional one when he deems it necessary. The doctors may also order other tests, like a bone scan or an ultrasound, to help the diagnosis.Īfter you have prepared appropriately, the X-ray technician at the lab helps you settle in and directs them according to the requirements of the X-ray. The imaging helps the doctors in drawing up appropriate treatment plans. They help the doctor in identifying abnormalities along the cervical spine in terms of form. X-rays are quick and painless procedures. The X-ray may also be carried out after surgery to check if everything has healed properly. It can also help in detecting infections, tumors or other abnormalities. The X-ray detects fractures in the cervical vertebra and also identifies dislocation in the joints between the vertebrae. Chronic cases tend to have other symptoms as well, such as upper limb weakness, tingling or numbness. Neck pain may occur after some kind of trauma, like an accident, or it may be chronic. The X-ray will help the doctor identify the reason behind pain in the neck. The doctor might examine the neck, observing its positioning, whether it tilts too much one way or not, or if the patient experiences difficulty in moving it back or forth. X-ray imaging is used with any identifiable clinical symptoms to diagnose the disease and chart treatment plans for the future.įurthermore, a physical exam may be taken. He or she also requires information about when the issue started, such as pain in the back, for how long it was prevalent and any other incidents that may have occurred which led to the problem. It is carried out to determine why a patient may have pain in their neck.īefore sending the patient for the X-ray, the doctor needs details of the patient's medical history. In general, when reporting 76140, the physician is not concurrently providing an E/M face-to-face service to the patient.This imaging test is ordered by the doctor to identify any issues with the cervical spine.
![cpt code for x ray cervical spine cpt code for x ray cervical spine](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/x-ray-cervical-spine-ray-film-taken-cervical-spine-medical-examination-hospital-130290851.jpg)
Remember, 76140 represents a consultation, in which a physician only renders an opinion or gives advice regarding the film in the form of a written report.
![cpt code for x ray cervical spine cpt code for x ray cervical spine](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/526566/1e4a251c59efbb11330abb446c6fcd.jpg)
Review of x-rays is part of the E/M service. Again, the E/M codes include work done before, during, or after the E/M visit. Rather, the review or re-read of the x-rays would be considered part of the face-to-face E/M service provided to the patient. Although the x-rays may have been taken elsewhere, the physician does not perform a consultation as intended by code 76140. If a patient presents to an office for a new patient visit and brings to the physician his or her medical records, including x-rays, you should not report code 76140. You would use this code when a physician's opinion or advice regarding a specific film is requested by another physician and upon examination of the film, the consulting physician renders his or her consultation (ie, or his/her opinion or advice) to the requesting physician in the form of a written report. 76140 Consultation on x-ray examination made elsewhere, written report.