CPT® Code 78265

A gastric emptying imaging study with small bowel transit, identified by CPT® Code 78265, is a diagnostic procedure that evaluates the motility of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically focusing on the stomach and small intestine. This noninvasive study utilizes scintigraphy, a technique that involves the use of a radiolabeled isotope tracer to visualize the movement of ingested materials through the digestive system. The procedure is designed to assess how quickly food moves from the stomach into the small intestine, which is crucial for diagnosing various gastrointestinal disorders. Conditions such as gastroparesis, characterized by delayed gastric emptying, and other symptoms like dyspepsia, abdominal pain, bloating, chronic diarrhea, constipation, idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, scleroderma, celiac disease, and malabsorption syndrome may warrant this type of imaging study. During the procedure, the patient consumes a meal that contains the isotope tracer, allowing for real-time imaging of the digestive process. For patients unable to ingest food orally, such as infants or those with feeding difficulties, the tracer can be administered through a nasal feeding tube or gastrostomy tube. The imaging is conducted with a gamma camera positioned over the abdomen, capturing the radioactive energy emitted from the tracer as it moves through the GI tract. The results of the study are interpreted by a physician, who then provides a comprehensive written report detailing the findings.