71552 MRI chest without & with dye
Also known as: chest MRI with and without contrast, dual-phase cardiac MRI, complete thoracic MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax (chest) performed with noncontrast and intravenous gadolinium contrast acquisitions. Comprehensive imaging combining baseline and enhanced cardiac assessment.
In Plain Language
complete chest scan; comprehensive heart imaging
Clinical Context
Comprehensive cardiac protocol when both baseline tissue characterization and enhancement patterns are needed for diagnosis, particularly for complex cardiac pathology.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 2.20 |
| Total RVU | 2.20 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
Radiology codes require a written order, clinical indication, and a formal interpretation report. The professional component (modifier -26) and technical component (modifier -TC) may be billed separately.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 2.20, this code ranks in the 93rd percentile among Radiology codes — 2.7x the median (0.81). The highest wRVU in this category is 11.57.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 71552?
CPT 71552 (MRI chest without & with dye) is a Radiology code. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax (chest) performed with noncontrast and intravenous gadolinium contrast acquisitions. Comprehensive imaging combining baseline and enhanced cardiac assessment.
Who uses CPT code 71552?
CPT 71552 is used by Cardiac Imaging, Cardiology, Radiology. Comprehensive cardiac protocol when both baseline tissue characterization and enhancement patterns are needed for diagnosis, particularly for complex cardiac pathology.
When is CPT 71552 used?
Comprehensive cardiac protocol when both baseline tissue characterization and enhancement patterns are needed for diagnosis, particularly for complex cardiac pathology.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.