Correct reporting of limited ultrasound of right upper quadrant of abdomen and lower right quadrant appendiceal

Q.

When a patient has a limited ultrasound (US) of the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and also a lower right quadrant appendiceal US, is it appropriate to report a complete abdominal US (CPT^® 76700) since two quadrants are being imaged?

A.

No, a complete abdominal ultrasound requires imaging of the liver, gallbladder, common bile duct, pancreas, spleen, right and left kidneys, the abdominal aorta, and the inferior vena cava. Although the code description for limited abdominal ultrasound indicates that it may be reported for imaging of a single quadrant, that does not mean that imaging two quadrants would be a complete ultrasound. If the right upper quadrant and right lower quadrant are imaged, that is still a limited abdominal ultrasound.