ProcedureThe term radiology can refer to a number of methods used by a physician to perform diagnostic tests. Therefore, reading the entire description will prove extremely helpful in finding the appropriate codes. For example, if a patient has had an angiogram, read the entire procedure to find out if it involves the patient's abdomen, arm, or chest. If it's the trunk, don't use the first code you see. Read the full code description. The first code under thoracic angiography is "71275", which describes the procedure as "a thoracic (non-coronary) CT angiogram, with one or more contrast media, including non-contrast images, if performed, and a post- image processing”. The other code under thoracic angiography is "71555", which describes the procedures as follows: "Magnetic resonance angiography, thoracic (excluding myocardium), with or without contrast material(s)" ("Current Procedural Terminology ; » American Medical Association; Fourth Edition).Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Manual. The radiology section of the CPT manual contains detailed guidelines on the professional, technical and overall components of a procedure. For example, if a patient goes to a clinic to have an x-ray, which is attended by their own radiologist, technician and x-ray machines, and the results are read and interpreted at that same clinic, this would be coded under global . But if the x-rays were taken to another facility to be read and interpreted, only the professional components would be reported to the physician's services. Another helpful tip: Be aware that sometimes code from another section must be used to fully describe the procedure. This is called component or combination coding. For example, when the radiologist injects or places the equipment necessary to perform a procedure, a CPT code from the surgery section must be used. Save time and be resourceful by showing where to look for codes in subsections of the CPT manual. Some of these subsections are: diagnostic imaging, mammography, radiation oncology and nuclear medicine..