If we want to get even more technical (and trust me, I really hope not), let’s examine each word of our keyword sequence:ġ) Ultrasound : In simple language, ‘ultra’ means beyond or above something + sound wave which creates an image where severity can be measured by waves frequency resulting into images on screen.Ģ) Carotid Artery Duplex Scan: We’ve already touched upon the importance of these two blood vessels located in your neck responsible for transporting oxygenated blood flow from heart to brain area through what we call cerebral circulation system via carotids arteries after which comes term “duplex scan” meaning use of both ultrasound and Doppler technology for two dimension imaging of these important blood vessels.ģ) Bilateral : Lastly, we find the word “bilateral” which simply calls attention to the fact that this exam is looking at both sides of your neck. Now Let’s Break Down Each Word in Our Magical Sequence I promise that’s all you need to know about deciphering cpt code nomenclature. Not sure how useful knowing that will be but.hey, knowledge is power amirite?Ĩ – This identifies “vascular testing” within diagnostic Radiology.Ĩ – Lastly, this number states specifically using ultrasound as modality instead of let’s say magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography angiogram. How exciting!ģ – This signifies “diagnostic radiology” according to. Now you’re probably wondering what each number represents in this magic sequence.ĩ – This digit tells insurance companies who owns the copyright for these codes (hint: it’s AMA). Easy peasy lemon squeezy.īut wait, there’s more! Decoding the CPT Medical Jargon So without further ado, the cpt code for ultrasound carotid artery duplex scan bilateral is: This system assigns each medical procedure its own unique code so that insurance companies know exactly what they’re paying for when they pay out claims (or dispute them).Īnd since there are gasp millions of different procedures out there, that leads to some unbelievably specific codes…including the one for a carotid artery duplex scan bilateral. “Cpt” stands for Current Procedural Terminology and was created by none other than The American Medical Association (AMA). Now comes the important question: what’s the cpt code? Exploring The CPT Code System Additionally, if you’re at risk for stroke – due to factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking – then getting a baseline checkup with this test is highly recommended! For starters, if you have symptoms such as dizziness or headaches, it could indicate a problem with blood flow in your carotids. There are many reasons why someone might need this test. By doing this, doctors can identify any blockages or narrowing in these vital vessels.Ĭan you imagine hearing those internal sound effects? Bloop bloop! When Should You Have This Test Done? The duplex part of the scan means that it uses both ultrasound and Doppler technology to create images (and sounds) of blood flow within these arteries. These are two major blood vessels responsible for carrying blood from your heart to your brain. As the name suggests, it’s an imaging test that looks at the carotid arteries in your neck. Before diving into the cpt code, let’s first understand what a carotid artery duplex scan is.

Cpt code for carotid doppler bilateral