To achieve the best angle, the central ray should be directed at an angle that parallels the plane of the mandible and then directed to just below the hyoid bone. An excessive or insufficient angle can distort these disc spaces. To project the intervertebral disc spaces open, the central ray should be directed perpendicular to the long axis of the vertebral column 3, 4. and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots cervical below C2, each additional interspace (List separately in addition to code for separate procedure) 18 Example 22551 A needle was placed into the disk at C6-7, and an x-ray was obtained, which helped confirm the level of the procedure. July 2013 page 10 Coding Update: Cervical Spine X Ray For 2013, revisions were made to the codes in the Diagnostic Radiology (Diagnostic Imaging): Spine and Pelvis section of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set.

This angle can and will vary between 5-20° depending on the position of the head. For this reason, a cephalic angle is required to project through the long axis of the vertebral column. Correcting tube angle errors and head tilt errorsĪ lordotic curvature exists in the cervical spine. The spinous process will rotate toward the pedicle of the side farther from the image receptor 3.

The spinous process should be midline of the vertebral body, equidistant from both pedicles 3. Any deviation from the midline indicates rotation is present. Rotation can be detected by looking at the spinous processes in relation to the pedicles. make sure that any removable artifacts such as earrings, glasses or metal dentures are removed to avoid obscuring the anatomy of interest.spinous processes should be midline, equidistant to the pedicles, indicating that there is no rotation.cervical spine intervertebral disk spaces should be open 2.superiorly to include C2 and inferiorly to include T2.laterally to include the entire cervical spine.the central ray is midline centered at the level of C4 to enter immediately below the hyoid bone.chin should be raised to align the lower margin of the upper incisors to the mastoid tips/base of the skull (unless trauma when the patient is placed in a cervical collar).patient shoulders should be at equal distances from the image receptor to avoid rotation.patient positioned erect in AP position (unless trauma when the patient will be supine).This projection helps to visualize pathology relating to C3-C7 in the anatomical position, demonstrating any compression fractures, clay-shoveler fractures and herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) 1.

Cpt code for cervical spine x ray