Nuclear Medicine Schedule of Unit Values
General Information and Recording Instructions for Nuclear Medicine
1.
The nuclear medicine section has been developed to be consistent with all other imaging
modalities so the total unit value for each exam includes all components needed to
complete it.
2.
The established unit values take into consideration various technologies and age of
equipment.
3.
Exam counts are based on the definition of an exam.
4.
SPECT is defined as one completed camera rotation in any format that results in an
image of a specific anatomical area. These units are used for any complete rotation that is
in addition to the initial SPECT rotation.
Code
Exam/Activity
Unit
Value
Exam
count
30
0
40
0
30
See the
schedule
of unit
values
for CT
0
50
60
1
1
70
2
60
2
50
60
1
2
General
NM100
NM105
NM110
NM115
SPECT- add this unit value to the appropriate exam listed
below when using SPECT
SPECT/CT when using CT for attenuation, correction,
localization only. - add this unit value to the appropriate
exam listed below when using SPECT
If the CT image is also used for diagnostic purposes, do not
count extra workload units.
Delayed image
If performing a diagnostic CT only (e.g. not using the
SPECT component) with the SPECT/CT instrument,
capture units from the CT scan schedule.
Bone
NM205
NM210
NM215
NM220
NM225
NM230
Bone specific site
Bone specific site with pinhole projection
Used when doing a pinhole projection in conjunction with a
regular exam.
Count 10 workload units for each pinhole projection above
one.
Bone specific site with pinhole projection, bone flow and/or
blood pool image
Bone specific site bone flow and/or blood pool image
Includes NM205
Bone - whole body
Bone - whole body bone and flow and/or blood pool image
Includes NM225
1
NM235
NM240
NM245
NM250
NM255
Bone - whole body and spot with additional joint projections
Includes NM225
Bone - whole body including joints with bone flow and/or
blood pool image
SI joint ratios (calculation only)
NM radionuclide arthrogram
Bone marrow
70
1
80
2
10
25
75
0
1
1
Lung perfusion
Lung perfusion with flow
Lung perfusion with quantification
Lung ventilation (May include gas or aerosol)
Lung ventilation and perfusion (May include gas or aerosol)
Lung quantitative ventilation and perfusion
30
40
40
40
70
80
1
1
1
1
1
1
40
0
70
45
2
1
35
1
60
120
1
1
55
40
35
60
70
40
40
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
115
60
80
1
1
1
90
1
30
30
140
1
1
1
60
1
Lung
NM305
NM310
NM315
NM320
NM325
NM330
Cardiovascular
NM350
NM355
NM360
NM365
NM370
NM375
NM380
NM385
NM390
NM391
NM393
NM395
NM396
Stress test service recipient monitoring. Includes monitoring
of ECG during exercise/pharmaceutical stressing for optimal
timing of injection of radiopharmaceutical
Rest myocardial viability (rest and redistribution)
Rest myocardial perfusion
(May include gating)
Stress (exercise or pharmacological) myocardial perfusion.
(May include gating)
Includes the imaging and analysis of the data.
Wall motion rest (cardiac output)
Wall motion stress (exercise or pharmacological) (cardiac
output)
Myocardial Infarct Imaging
Superior Vena Cava (SVC)
Venogram flow - unilateral
Venogram flow - bilateral
Venogram RBC
Ventricular Shunt (Right to Left)
Ventricular Shunt (Left to Right)
Circulatory/Lymphatic
NM405
NM406
NM407
Lymphoscintigraphy (whole body)
Lymphoscintigraphy - sentinel node - breast
Lymphoscintigraphy - sentinel node melanoma
Endocrine
NM425
NM430
NM435
NM440
NM445
Parathyroid
Includes the injection and first two sets of images.
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
Thyroid scan
Thyroid uptake (includes 2 uptakes)
Adrenal Cortex
Includes injection and up to three sets of images.
Iodine whole body
2
NM450
I131 specific site
50
1
Includes up to 4 sets of images.
NM451
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
MIBG (I123) Specific site (may include adrenal medulla)
Includes injection and 1st set of images.
80
1
NM452
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
MIBG (I131) Specific site (may include adrenal medulla)
Includes injection and 1st set of images.
85
1
NM453
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
Octreotide Specific site (may include adrenal medulla)
Includes injection and 1st set of images.
85
1
NM455
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
MIBG (I123) whole body
Includes the injection and first set of images.
95
1
NM456
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
MIBG (I131) whole body
Includes the injection and first set of images.
100
1
NM457
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
Octreotide whole body
Includes injection and first image.
110
1
40
1
85
1
95
1
Use delayed image code (NM115) for additional images.
Central Nervous System
NM475
Brain (CNS) with flow
NM481
Includes two sets of images.
Brain SPECT (cerebral perfusion)
Do not count code NM100.
Brain SPECT CT (cerebral perfusion)
NM485
NM490
Do not count code NM115.
Brain death study
Cisternography
35
175
1
1
NM495
NM496
Includes injection and first 4 sets of images.
CSF Shunt
CSF leak
60
170
1
1
NM497
Includes injection and first 3 sets of images.
CSF leak with pledget counting (4-5 visits)
230
1
50
60
65
40
60
1
2
1
1
1
NM480
Includes injection and first 4 sets of images.
Kidney
NM505
NM506
NM510
NM511
NM515
Renal Morphological Imaging - static
Renal Morphological Imaging – with flow
Cystogram Direct
Cystogram Indirect
Renal Dynamic study (flow and function)
3
NM520
Captopril Administration and Monitoring
30
0
NM525
For use only if performed by unit-producing personnel.
Includes only the administration and monitoring of Captopril.
Use code NM515 for the imaging.
Diuretic Administration
10
0
60
80
1
1
75
75
1
1
55
1
60
1
55
1
70
65
70
1
1
1
85
1
65
1
85
1
120
65
0
1
35
45
100
1
1
1
150
1
45
75
65
130
120
1
1
1
1
1
NM530
NM535
NM536
NM540
For use only if performed by unit-producing personnel.
Includes only the administration and monitoring of diuretic.
Use code NM515 for the imaging.
Renal Transplant
GFR Gamma camera method
Includes a renal dynamic study.
Do not count NM515 separately.
GFR Blood test method
ERPF Blood Sample Method
Soft Tissue
NM550
NM551
Gallium specific site
Includes up to 4 sets of images.
Use delayed image code (NM110) for additional images.
Gallium whole body
Includes up to 4 sets of images.
NM555
NM556
NM560
NM565
NM566
NM570
NM571
NM575
NM580
Use delayed image code (NM110) for additional images.
Dacroscintography (lacrimal duct) without quantitative
analysis
Dacroscintography (lacrimal duct) with quantitative analysis
Scintimammography
WBC Indium specific site (does not include labelling)
Includes the 1st set of images.
WBC Indium whole body (does not include labelling)
Includes the 1st set of images.
WBC Technetium specific site (does not include labelling)
Includes the 1st set of images.
WBC Technetium whole body (does not include labelling)
Includes the 1st set of images.
WBC labelling (includes labelling with any radionuclide)
Peritoneal Scan (abdominal shunt patency)
Gastro-Intestinal
NM605
NM606
NM610
NM611
NM615
NM620
NM625
NM630
NM631
Liver / spleen
Liver / Spleen with flow
RBC liver with flow
Includes RBC labelling.
RBC spleen with flow
Includes heat damage RBC labelling.
Esophageal motility
Gastroesophageal reflux
Lung Aspiration
Solid Gastric Emptying
Liquid Gastric Emptying
4
NM635
NM640
NM641
NM645
NM650
NM655
NM660
NM661
NM665
NM666
NM670
NM675
NM680
Portocath patency
RBC Labelling for GI Bleed – in vitro (e.g. Ultra Tag®)
RBC Labelling for GI Bleed – Modified in vivo/in vitro
RBC GI Bleed Imaging and flow
Pharmacologic Intervention for GI Bleed
(Count ONLY if performed by unit-producing personnel).
Colloid GI Bleed
Gastrointestinal mucosa (Meckels)
Gastrointestinal mucosa (Meckels) with Pharmacologic
Intervention
(Count ONLY if performed by unit-producing personnel).
Hepatobiliary Scan
Hepatobiliary Scan with Pharmacologic Intervention
Gallbladder Ejection fraction
Includes the Hepatobilliary Scan.
Do not count NM665 separately.
G.I. Transit Time
Salivary gland
15
35
45
120
15
1
0
0
1
0
55
70
85
1
1
1
85
115
110
1
1
1
50
60
1
1
35
0
195
1
25
60
30
60
95
100
195
195
Standard
or Actual
Time
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
160
95
100
140
190
50
10
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
Unit
Value
Exam
count
Misc General Imaging
NM690
Mobile Examination for Nuclear Medicine
Do not count code MI900 at the same time.
Therapeutic
NM705
NM710
NM715
NM720
NM725
NM730
NM735
NM740
NM745
NM750
Treatment with I131 malignancy
Includes room preparation, service recipient assessment
and/or counselling.
Treatment with I131 hyperthyroid
Treatment with Strontium-89 (SR89)
Treatment with Phosphorous-32 (P32)
Synovectomy treatment with colloid (Y90 or P32)
Treatment with monoclonal antibody – Y90 Chloride
Treatment with monoclonal antibody – I131
Treatment with Octreotide
Treatment with MIBG II31
Miscellaneous Therapy
(For esoteric or new therapies).
Non-Imaging
NM805
NM810
NM815
NM820
NM825
NM830
NM840
Protein losing enteropathy
Red cell mass
Plasma volume
RBC and plasma volume
Red cell/platelet sequestration
Carbon 14 Breath Test
Withdrawing blood for testing other than for nuclear
medicine
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT)
Code
Exam/Activity
The following are additional units that may be added to the exams listed below
PT100
Additional frames (fields of view) with or without attenuation
15
PT105
Preparation of service recipient for radiation treatment
25
0
0
5
PT110
PT115
PT120
PT125
PT130
PT135
Lasix Administration
Does not include additional pre- and post-image. Use
additional frames (see above) if required.
Count ONLY if performed by unit-producing personnel.
Oral Contrast Administration
Count ONLY if performed by unit-producing personnel
Retrospective reconstruction (e.g. using different filters)
Gating (cardiac or respiratory)
Dynamic (includes the extra time required for the immediate
real time images)
Extra paperwork required for Clinical Trial Protocol
To be categorized as non-service recipient activity
The four exams below include any glucose testing required
PT200
Brain only
PT205
Cardiac only
PT210
Whole Body
PT215
Near Whole Body (eyes to thighs)
10
0
10
0
15
25
Actual or
Standard
Time
20
0
0
0
85
90
150
115
1
1
1
1
0
6