78610 Brain flow imaging only
Also known as: cerebral flow imaging only, brain perfusion study
Brain blood flow imaging performed without anatomic brain imaging to assess cerebral perfusion only.
In Plain Language
brain blood flow test
Clinical Context
Functional cerebral perfusion assessment without structural imaging for acute stroke or perfusion pattern evaluation.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 0.29 |
| Total RVU | 0.29 |
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 0.29, this code ranks in the 18th percentile among Radiology codes — 2.8x below the median (0.81). The highest wRVU in this category is 11.57.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 78610?
CPT 78610 (Brain flow imaging only) is a Radiology code. Brain blood flow imaging performed without anatomic brain imaging to assess cerebral perfusion only.
Who uses CPT code 78610?
CPT 78610 is used by Nuclear Medicine, Neurology, Radiology. Functional cerebral perfusion assessment without structural imaging for acute stroke or perfusion pattern evaluation.
When is CPT 78610 used?
Functional cerebral perfusion assessment without structural imaging for acute stroke or perfusion pattern evaluation.
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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.