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Question: A patient presented with pain in the third, fourth, and fifth digits of the left hand. The radiologist captured posteroanterior (PA) and lateral X-ray views of the fingers.

How do we report the X-rays for the three fingers?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: Regardless of whether the radiologist captured X-ray views of one digit or multiple fingers, you’ll assign only one CPT^® code for the procedure. Code 73140 (Radiologic examination, finger(s), minimum of 2 views) covers at least two X-ray views of the fingers, which the radiologist captured with the PA and lateral views.

The PA view is ideal for viewing the distal, middle, and proximal phalanx, as well as the joint spaces of the patient’s fingers. The distal phalanxes are the third of the three bones of the fingers when you count from the hand to the fingertips, whereas the proximal phalanxes are the first bones in the fingers when you count from the hand to the fingertips.

On the other hand, radiologists use the lateral view to examine the entire finger from the side. The view is useful in evaluating the patient’s digits for avulsions or dislocations.

Identify the digits: You may need to append 73140 with digit-specific modifiers depending on the individual payer’s preferences. In your situation, you might add F2 (Left hand, third digit), F3 (Left hand, fourth digit), and F4 (Left hand, fifth digit) to 73140 to show the radiologist captured images of the third, fourth, and fifth digits of the patient’s left hand.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC