CPT® Code 37252

Add-On Code

Intravascular ultrasound (noncoronary vessel) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including radiological supervision and interpretation; initial noncoronary vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a specialized imaging technique used to visualize the interior of blood vessels, specifically non-coronary vessels, during diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic interventions. This procedure provides a detailed cross-sectional view of the vessel, allowing healthcare professionals to assess the structure and condition of the vessel walls and surrounding tissues. The IVUS technique involves the use of a catheter equipped with a miniaturized ultrasound transducer, which is advanced over a guidewire to the targeted area within the vascular system. This enables the capture of high-resolution ultrasound images that reveal the various layers of the blood vessel, including the outer layer known as the adventitia, the middle layer called the media, the inner endothelial layer referred to as the intima, and the lumen, which is the open channel through which blood flows. The procedure is performed under radiological supervision, ensuring that the catheter is accurately placed and that the ultrasound images are properly obtained and interpreted. A written report detailing the findings from the IVUS examination is generated as part of the procedure. It is important to note that CPT® Code 37252 is designated for the initial non-coronary vessel evaluated using IVUS, while additional vessels evaluated during the same session are reported separately using CPT® Code 37253.