Need help choosing the right code?
Ask CasePilot about procedures, modifiers, bundling, and coding guidance.
Try CasePilot© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A radiologic examination of the lumbosacral spine, designated by CPT® Code 72120, involves the acquisition of bending views, specifically 2 or 3 images, to assess the structural integrity and biomechanical function of the lumbar region. This procedure utilizes X-ray technology, which employs indirect ionizing radiation to create images of the internal structures of the body. The principle behind X-ray imaging is based on the varying densities and compositions of human tissues; as X-rays pass through the body, some rays are absorbed while others are transmitted, resulting in a two-dimensional representation of the anatomical features. The bending views are particularly valuable in identifying biomechanical dysfunctions of the lumbar spine that may not be apparent in standard imaging. During the examination, the patient is positioned sitting on a stool, ensuring that their back is against a contact point to maintain stability and prevent forward movement of the torso. The patient is then instructed to flex their back laterally to each side as far as possible while maintaining contact with the stool. This seated position is advantageous as it minimizes the influence of gross musculature on the imaging results. In cases where initial plain films appear normal yet the patient continues to experience unexplained symptoms, these bending views can provide critical insights. Additionally, flexion or extension bending views may also be captured with the patient standing, such as when bending forward with straight knees and arms hanging down, further enhancing the diagnostic capability of the procedure.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The radiologic examination of the lumbosacral spine using bending views is indicated for various clinical scenarios where assessment of spinal function is necessary. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:
The procedure for conducting a radiologic examination of the lumbosacral spine with bending views involves several key steps to ensure accurate imaging and patient safety. The following procedural steps are outlined:
After the radiologic examination is completed, the patient may be advised to resume normal activities unless otherwise directed by their healthcare provider. There are typically no specific post-procedure care instructions required for this type of imaging. However, the healthcare provider will review the images and discuss the findings with the patient, which may lead to further diagnostic evaluations or treatment plans based on the results of the bending views. It is important for the patient to follow up with their physician to address any ongoing symptoms or concerns that may arise following the examination.
| Short Descr | X-RAY BEND ONLY L-S SPINE | Medium Descr | RADEX SPINE LUMBOSACRAL ONLY BENDING 2/3 VIEWS | Long Descr | Radiologic examination, spine, lumbosacral; bending views only, 2 or 3 views | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | STV-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I1B - Standard imaging - musculoskeletal | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 226 - Other diagnostic radiology and related techniques |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | FY | X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AT | Acute treatment (this modifier should be used when reporting service 98940, 98941, 98942) | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | FX | X-ray taken using film | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | MC | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to the significant hardship exception of electronic health record or clinical decision support mechanism vendor issues | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Short Descriptor changed. |
| 2012-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.