May 6, 2016
Can you think of a diagnostic test more common than an X-ray? Okay, hemoglobin and hematocrit may top X-rays in frequency of ordering, but you have to admit that as a general diagnostic tool, clinicians find a look inside a patient to be an invaluable assist. Chest X-rays are among the most popular and useful baseline imaging studies around, and fortunately plain-image (formerly called plain film — more on this in a minute) chest X-ray CPT® codes were unchanged for 2016. But vertebrae also show up on chest X-rays, though any thoracic or cervical abnormalities seen on chest X-ray imaging studies would be incidental, sparking the need for spinal X-rays to be performed.