70553

🧠 CPT 70553 — MRI Brain (Including Brain Stem) Without Contrast, Followed By Contrast Material(s) And Further Sequences

Quick Reference

wRVU: 2.23 | Global Period: XXX (Not Applicable — Diagnostic/Radiology) | Assistant Payable: ❌ No | Bilateral Indicator: 3

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📋 Clinical Description

CPT 70553 describes a two-phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the brain and brain stem performed within a single session: the radiologist first acquires baseline images without contrast material, then administers intravenous gadolinium contrast and acquires additional enhanced sequences. This comprehensive approach is the most diagnostically complete brain MRI available under the CPT brain imaging family, distinguishing it from 70551 (without contrast only) and 70552 (with contrast only), because it captures both non-enhanced baseline morphology and contrast-dependent enhancement patterns — a combination required by many disease protocols.

MRI of the brain is used to evaluate structural, vascular, inflammatory, neoplastic, and demyelinating conditions of the cerebral and cerebellar parenchyma, the brain stem, the ventricular system, and surrounding meninges. Gadolinium contrast causes breakdown in the blood-brain barrier at areas of active inflammation, neovascularization, or tumor — making the without/with protocol essential for detecting meningiomas, metastases, pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, and active MS plaques that would be missed or undercharacterized by non-contrast imaging alone.

This procedure may be performed in the following clinical contexts:

• New or suspected intracranial neoplasm — Both sequences together allow characterization of tumor enhancement pattern, degree of blood-brain barrier disruption, and perilesional edema, which are required for grading and surgical planning.
• Surveillance after treated brain malignancy — Post-treatment surveillance for recurrence or radiation necrosis requires contrast enhancement to differentiate viable tumor from treatment effect (pseudoprogression).
• Multiple sclerosis workup or follow-up — Active MS plaques enhance with gadolinium; combined sequences on a single study satisfy McDonald criteria requirements for lesion characterization.
• Pituitary gland or sella turcica evaluation — Dynamic contrast imaging is required for detecting microadenomas of the pituitary gland; 70553 is the mandated code when pituitary protocol is performed.
• Unexplained seizure, focal neurological deficit, or altered mental status — Pre- and post-contrast sequences together increase sensitivity for causative lesions (abscess, encephalitis, low-grade tumor, vascular malformation) versus baseline parenchymal assessment alone.
• Internal auditory canal (IAC) / cranial nerve evaluation — Gadolinium is required for evaluation of acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) and facial nerve pathology; 70553 is the required code for IAC protocols.

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🔬 Anatomical & Procedural Considerations

Phase	Key Feature	Coding / Clinical Notes
Phase 1 — Non-Contrast Sequences	T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI acquired before contrast injection; establishes baseline parenchymal signal, hemorrhage, edema, diffusion restriction	Must be documented in the radiology report as performed before contrast; absence of documentation may support downcode to 70552 on audit
Phase 2 — Post-Contrast Sequences	IV gadolinium administered (typically 0.1 mmol/kg); T1 post-contrast sequences (axial, sagittal, coronal) acquired; highlights enhancing lesions, leptomeningeal disease, blood-brain barrier disruption	Gadolinium type and dose must be documented; allergy pre-medication and renal function screening (eGFR for NSF risk) are standard of care
Pituitary / Dynamic Protocol	Rapid sequential T1 post-contrast imaging through the sella; detects microadenomas < 6 mm not visible on standard sequences	70553 is required for all pituitary protocols; cannot be reported separately as a second study; documentation must state “pituitary protocol” or “dynamic contrast”
Spectroscopy or Functional Add-ons	MR spectroscopy (70557-70559), fMRI (70554-70555), or MRA brain (70544-70546) may be added	These are separately reportable add-on or standalone codes; do NOT bundle into 70553; modifier -59 or -XS may be required

Clinical Pearl

The single most common audit trigger for 70553 is a radiology report that fails to explicitly document that non-contrast sequences were acquired before contrast administration. If the report only describes post-contrast findings or does not sequence the phases, payers will downcode to 70552 (with contrast only), reducing reimbursement. The report must clearly state both phases were completed in the same session. For pituitary studies, the report must include language such as “pituitary protocol” or “dynamic post-contrast sequences through the sella” to defend the medical necessity of the without/with protocol rather than contrast-only imaging.

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✅ Procedure Includes

• Pre-scan patient screening for MRI contraindications (pacemaker, implants, ferromagnetic devices), allergy history, and renal function assessment for gadolinium administration
• Patient positioning, MRI coil placement, and technical parameter selection for brain/brain stem field of view
• Complete non-contrast MRI sequences of the brain and brain stem (T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI and/or additional sequences per protocol)
• IV administration of gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA)
• Post-contrast MRI sequences of the brain and brain stem (T1 post-contrast in at minimum two planes; sagittal 3D MPRAGE or equivalent)
• Real-time image quality review by the supervising radiologist or MRI technologist
• Radiologist interpretation, dictation, and signed final report documenting both phases, findings, clinical impression, and follow-up recommendations

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❌ Excludes / Do Not Report Together

Code	Description	Relationship to 70553
70551	MRI brain without contrast only	Mutually exclusive — report 70551 when ONLY non-contrast sequences are performed; do NOT add 70551 when 70553 is billed for the same session/same study
70552	MRI brain with contrast only	Mutually exclusive — report 70552 when contrast is administered but NO baseline non-contrast sequences were acquired; if both phases are done, 70553 is required and 70552 cannot also be billed
70554	Functional MRI brain (fMRI), physician-directed	Separately reportable when fMRI is performed as a distinct acquisition and service; requires separate documentation and distinct clinical indication
70557	MRI brain without contrast + spectroscopy	Separately reportable when MR spectroscopy is added; these codes (70557-70559) include the MRI brain component — do NOT report 70553 additionally when 70557-70559 are billed
70544	MR Angiography, head, without contrast	Separately reportable when a distinct MRA head protocol is performed in addition to the structural brain MRI; modifier -59 or -XS may be required to bypass NCCI edits depending on payer
E/M codes (992xx / 920xx)	Office visit, any level	Not applicable — 70553 is a diagnostic imaging service performed and interpreted by a radiologist; an E/M is not typically billed by the interpreting radiologist; the ordering provider bills the E/M separately for the clinical encounter driving the order

Global Period is XXX — No Global Period Applies

CPT 70553 carries a global period indicator of XXX, meaning the global surgery concept does not apply — there are no pre- or post-service days bundled, no follow-up visits included in the payment, and no modifier -24 or -25 global period rules apply to this code. This is consistent with all diagnostic radiology services. Each study is independently billable based on medical necessity. The most common audit risk is duplicate billing — reporting 70553 and 70551 or 70552 for the same brain MRI session, which constitutes unbundling and may trigger NCCI or payer edits with recoupment risk.

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🌳 Code Tree — Radiology: Diagnostic Imaging, Head and Neck — MRI Brain

CPT 70540-70559 Diagnostic Radiology — Head and Neck, MRI
│
├── 70540-70543 MRI Orbit, Face, and Neck
│ ├── 70540 MRI orbit, face, and neck; without contrast
│ ├── 70542 MRI orbit, face, and neck; with contrast
│ └── 70543 MRI orbit, face, and neck; without and with contrast
│
├── 70544-70546 MR Angiography, Head
│ ├── 70544 MRA head; without contrast
│ ├── 70545 MRA head; with contrast
│ └── 70546 MRA head; without and with contrast
│
├── 70547-70549 MR Angiography, Neck
│ ├── 70547 MRA neck; without contrast
│ ├── 70548 MRA neck; with contrast
│ └── 70549 MRA neck; without and with contrast
│
├── 70551-70553 MRI Brain (Including Brain Stem)
│ ├── 70551 MRI brain; without contrast material (Global: XXX)
│ ├── 70552 MRI brain; with contrast material(s) (Global: XXX)
│ └── ▶▶ 70553 ◀◀ MRI brain; without contrast, followed by contrast and further sequences ← YOU ARE HERE (Global: XXX)
│
└── 70554-70559 Functional MRI / MR Spectroscopy, Brain
├── 70554 fMRI brain, physician or psychologist administered
├── 70555 fMRI brain, requiring physician or psychologist administration of entire neurofunctional testing
├── 70557 MRI brain without contrast + spectroscopy
├── 70558 MRI brain with contrast + spectroscopy
└── 70559 MRI brain without and with contrast + spectroscopy

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💰 RVU & Reimbursement Profile

Component	Value
Work RVU (wRVU)	2.23 (verify against current CMS MPFS for applicable year)
Global Period	XXX (Not Applicable — Diagnostic Imaging)
Bilateral Indicator	3 — Bilateral concept does not apply; the brain is a single midline organ; no bilateral reduction rules apply
Assistant Surgeon	❌ Not payable
Co-Surgeon	❌ Not applicable
Team Surgery	❌ Not applicable
PC/TC Split	✅ Yes — Professional (26) / Technical (TC) component split applies; radiologist bills -26 for interpretation; facility or imaging center bills TC for equipment and staff
Modifier -51 Exempt	No — subject to multiple procedure reduction rules when multiple imaging studies are performed same session
Anesthesia	No separate anesthesia billing expected for standard adult patients; pediatric or claustrophobic patients may require moderate sedation billed separately under 99151-99153 or general anesthesia under 00100 series
Non-Facility Medicare Rate	~$316.97 (CY2026)
CY 2026 Conversion Factor (non-APM)	$33.40

PC/TC Split Billing Rules

70553 has a PC/TC indicator of 1, meaning the professional and technical components are separately payable. In a non-facility setting (freestanding imaging center that owns the equipment), the imaging center may bill the global code 70553 without a modifier and receive the combined professional + technical payment. In a facility setting (hospital outpatient), the radiologist employed by a physician group bills 70553-26 for the professional interpretation, and the hospital bills the technical component on the UB-04. Billing 70553 without -26 or -TC in a split-billing environment is a common overpayment risk; always match the modifier to the employment and equipment ownership arrangement.

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🏷️ Modifier Reference

Modifier	Name	When to Apply
-26	Professional Component	Radiologist bills for interpretation, dictation, and final signed report only; equipment/staff costs billed by the facility under TC
-TC	Technical Component	Facility or imaging center bills for MRI equipment, contrast agent, MRI technologist, and room time; no interpretation included
-52	Reduced Services	Study was initiated but not fully completed (e.g., patient could not tolerate post-contrast sequences); document reason in report
-53	Discontinued Procedure	Study abandoned due to patient safety concern (e.g., adverse contrast reaction, discovery of implant); document reason and point of discontinuation
-59	Distinct Procedural Service	When 70553 is billed alongside another imaging study (e.g., MRI spine) in the same session and payer bundles inappropriately; documents distinct anatomic site or independent service
-GC	Resident Performed Under Supervision	Required in teaching facilities when a resident performs under general supervision of an attending radiologist
-GE	Resident in Primary Care Exception	Used in primary care teaching settings per CMS direct supervision rules
-Q6	Locum Tenens	Substitute radiologist billing under the ordering/interpreting physician’s NPI; document locum arrangement

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🩺 Common ICD-10-CM Pairings

Primary Neurological Indications

ICD-10 Code	Description	HCC?	Clinical Notes
G35.A	Multiple sclerosis	✅ HCC 77	Use for established MS diagnosis; 70553 without/with contrast protocol is standard for MS workup and lesion surveillance per McDonald criteria
G40.909	Epilepsy, unspecified, not intractable, without status epilepticus	❌ No	Use when seizure disorder drives imaging; query provider for epilepsy type and intractability to achieve maximum specificity in the G40 category
R56.9	Unspecified convulsions	❌ No	Appropriate for new-onset first seizure workup when epilepsy has not yet been diagnosed; do not use if epilepsy is already established
G43.909	Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus	❌ No	Query for migraine type (with/without aura, hemiplegic, chronic) for more specific coding; without/with contrast protocol indicated when red flag features are present
R51.9	Headache, unspecified	❌ No	Use only when headache is the presenting symptom and no specific headache disorder has been diagnosed; least specific — query first
G93.89	Other specified disorders of brain	❌ No	Broad fallback for documented brain abnormality not classifiable elsewhere; often used for encephalopathy, post-infectious change, or non-specific white matter disease

Neoplastic Indications

ICD-10 Code	Description	HCC?	Clinical Notes
C71.9	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	✅ HCC 22	Use when primary brain malignancy is established but site within brain is not documented; query for lobe-specific coding (C71.0-C71.8) when possible
C71.1	Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe	✅ HCC 22	Site-specific — use when provider documents frontal lobe as the primary tumor location
D33.0	Benign neoplasm of brain, supratentorial	❌ No	Use for documented benign brain tumors (e.g., meningioma) above the tentorium; D33.1 for infratentorial
C79.31	Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain	✅ HCC 22	Use when brain MRI is ordered for known metastatic disease to the brain; sequence the primary site malignancy as additional diagnosis
Z85.841	Personal history of malignant neoplasm of brain	❌ No	Use for surveillance imaging post-treatment when no active malignancy is present; documents medical necessity for ongoing monitoring

Vascular and Demyelinating Indications

ICD-10 Code	Description	HCC?	Clinical Notes
I67.89	Other cerebrovascular disease	✅ HCC 108	Used for cerebrovascular conditions not classifiable to stroke or TIA; includes CADASIL, moyamoya, and cerebral small vessel disease
G37.9	Demyelinating disease of central nervous system, unspecified	❌ No	Use when demyelinating disease is suspected or documented but not yet specified as MS; query for more specific diagnosis after imaging results
G91.9	Hydrocephalus, unspecified	❌ No	Query for communicating vs. obstructive and for specific etiology when possible (G91.0-G91.4)

Coding Specificity Reminder

The most frequent specificity gap for brain MRI ICD-10-CM pairings is failure to specify the type, site, or etiology of the neurological condition. Epilepsy type and intractability (G40 category), tumor lobe location (C71.0-C71.8), and headache disorder type (G43.x vs. G44.x vs. R51.x) are all character-level axes that require explicit physician documentation before assignment. Never default to unspecified codes like R51.9 or G40.909 when more specific documentation exists in the record — query the provider, because ICD-10-CM specificity requirements are not optional and payers use these codes to evaluate medical necessity for advanced imaging.

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🏥 MS-DRG Considerations (Inpatient)

Inpatient Coding Reminder

CPT 70553 is performed primarily in the outpatient / ambulatory imaging setting. Routine inpatient admission solely for brain MRI is not clinically expected or payer-supported. When a patient is already admitted for a neurological condition (e.g., new-onset seizure, intracranial tumor, acute MS exacerbation) and brain MRI is performed during the stay, the ICD-10-PCS code (not CPT) is assigned by the facility coder. The principal diagnosis and any ICD-10-PCS procedure code will group to MDC 01 — Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System, with DRG assignment based on the specific diagnosis and CC/MCC tier (e.g., DRG 057/058/059 for degenerative nervous system disorders; DRG 100/101/102 for seizures). The imaging PCS code itself generally does not shift the DRG but documents the procedure for clinical completeness.

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🔧 ICD-10-PCS Equivalents (Inpatient Facility Coding)

Note

Inpatient PCS coding for brain MRI is encountered when the study is performed during an acute inpatient stay. The PCS root operation is Imaging — Plain Radiography / MRI (Section B), Body System Central Nervous System (0). The key distinction in PCS character 5 (Contrast) is whether no contrast (Z), high osmolar (0), low osmolar (1), or other contrast (Y) was used — gadolinium maps to Y (Other Contrast). When both unenhanced and enhanced phases are performed, use the Unenhanced and Enhanced qualifier (0) with Other Contrast (Y). ICD-10-PCS has no modifier equivalent for bilateral; the brain is a single structure and bilateral does not apply.

PCS Code	Full Description	Applicable Modality
B030ZZZ	Imaging, Central Nervous System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain, No Contrast, No Qualifier	Non-contrast brain MRI only (maps to CPT 70551)
B030Y0Z	Imaging, Central Nervous System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain, Other Contrast (Gadolinium), Unenhanced and Enhanced	Without and with contrast brain MRI — maps to CPT 70553
B030YZZ	Imaging, Central Nervous System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain, Other Contrast, No Qualifier	With contrast brain MRI only (maps to CPT 70552)

PCS Character Analysis — B030Y0Z

Position	Character	Value	Definition
1	Section	B	Imaging
2	Body System	0	Central Nervous System
3	Root Type	3	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
4	Body Part	0	Brain
5	Contrast	Y	Other Contrast (gadolinium-based contrast agent)
6	Qualifier	0	Unenhanced and Enhanced (both phases performed)
7	Qualifier	Z	No Qualifier

PCS Contrast Character: Y-0 vs. Y-Z

• Use Y (Other Contrast) + Qualifier 0 (Unenhanced and Enhanced) — B030Y0Z — when both non-contrast and post-contrast phases are performed in the same session; this is the inpatient PCS equivalent of CPT 70553.
• Use Y (Other Contrast) + Qualifier Z (No Qualifier) — B030YZZ — when only post-contrast sequences are acquired (maps to CPT 70552).
• Use Z (No Contrast) — B030ZZZ — when no contrast is administered at all (maps to CPT 70551).
• When the operative/procedure note does not clearly document whether both phases were performed, query the radiologist before assigning B030Y0Z — a mismatch between CPT and PCS contrast documentation is an audit red flag in inpatient records.

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📝 Coding Examples

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Example 1 — Outpatient Imaging Center: New MS Diagnosis Workup

Clinical Scenario: A 34-year-old woman presents to an outpatient neurology clinic with a 3-week history of left arm weakness, diplopia, and fatigue. The neurologist orders a brain MRI with and without contrast to evaluate for demyelinating disease. At a freestanding imaging center, the MRI technologist acquires non-contrast sequences (T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI) followed by gadolinium injection and post-contrast T1 sequences in three planes. The radiologist’s report states: “MRI brain without and with contrast demonstrates two periventricular T2/FLAIR hyperintense lesions, one of which demonstrates gadolinium enhancement consistent with an active demyelinating plaque. Findings are consistent with clinically isolated syndrome, meeting radiologic criteria for dissemination in space.” No separate E/M is billed by the interpreting radiologist.

Field	Code	Rationale
CPT	70553	Two-phase brain MRI (without then with contrast) performed in a single session at a freestanding imaging center; global billing without modifier (center owns equipment and employs/contracts the radiologist)
PDx	G37.9	Demyelinating disease of CNS, unspecified — appropriate at time of imaging before formal MS diagnosis is established by the treating neurologist; supports medical necessity for without/with contrast protocol

Note

Once the treating neurologist documents a confirmed MS diagnosis, the PDx for future surveillance imaging will shift to G35.A. The interpreting radiologist at a freestanding center typically bills the global code 70553 without modifiers; if the radiologist is in a hospital-based practice and the MRI is performed at an outpatient hospital, the radiologist bills 70553-26 and the hospital bills TC on the UB-04.

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Example 2 — Hospital Outpatient: Known Brain Metastases, Surveillance Imaging with Professional Component Billing

Clinical Scenario: A 61-year-old man with a history of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (C34.11 — primary site, right upper lobe, established diagnosis) presents for quarterly surveillance brain MRI ordered by oncology. The radiology group bills for interpretation only; the hospital outpatient department bills the technical component. Non-contrast sequences are acquired first, followed by IV gadolinium and post-contrast sequences. The radiologist’s report documents: “MRI brain without and with contrast. Two previously identified right cerebellar metastatic lesions are stable in size. No new enhancing lesions identified.” No new E/M is generated by the radiologist.

Field	Code	Rationale
CPT	70553-26	Radiologist’s professional component only — interpretation and signed report; hospital bills TC separately on UB-04
PDx	C79.31	Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain — this is the primary reason the imaging is being performed (known brain mets under surveillance)
SDx	C34.11	Malignant neoplasm of upper lobe, right bronchus or lung — primary site of known metastatic disease; supports medical necessity narrative

Warning

The -26 modifier must be applied to the radiologist’s claim only — the hospital’s UB-04 claim for the technical component does not use modifier -26 or -TC; the hospital’s charge description master (CDM) should be mapped to the TC component only. Billing 70553 globally (without -26) by the physician group when the equipment is owned by the hospital constitutes a duplicate billing/overpayment risk and is a frequent finding in RAC audits.

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Example 3 — Outpatient Imaging: Pituitary Protocol for Suspected Microadenoma

Clinical Scenario: A 28-year-old woman presents with amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and an elevated serum prolactin of 94 ng/mL. The endocrinologist orders a “pituitary protocol MRI brain without and with contrast.” The radiologist performs standard brain sequences followed by dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging through the sella turcica with thin coronal and sagittal T1 sequences. The report states: “MRI brain and pituitary without and with contrast using pituitary protocol dynamic imaging. A 5 mm hypointense focus within the right aspect of the pituitary gland demonstrates delayed enhancement consistent with a pituitary microadenoma. No mass effect on the optic chiasm.” A separate E/M was not generated by the radiologist.

Field	Code	Rationale
CPT	70553	Pituitary protocol MRI brain without and with contrast; 70553 is the required code for all pituitary protocol imaging — dynamic contrast through the sella does not create a separately reportable code
PDx	E22.1	Hyperprolactinemia — primary metabolic/endocrine indication driving the imaging order; documents medical necessity for pituitary-specific protocol
SDx	N91.2	Amenorrhea, unspecified — secondary manifestation supporting the clinical picture

Note

Do not separately report a pituitary-specific CPT for the dynamic sequences — there is no CPT code that describes a pituitary protocol as a distinct add-on to 70553; the dynamic sella sequences are included within the 70553 service. Some coders mistakenly attempt to bill 70553 plus an additional unlisted code for the dynamic sequences — this is incorrect and will result in claim rejection or recoupment. The pituitary protocol is documented in the radiology report, and 70553 encompasses the complete study.

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⚠️ Common Coding Pitfalls

• Unbundling 70553 with 70551 or 70552 for the same session: If the radiologist performs a single brain MRI study with both non-contrast and post-contrast phases, only 70553 is reportable — billing 70551 + 70552, or 70551 + 70553, or 70552 + 70553 for the same brain/same session constitutes unbundling, violates NCCI edits, and creates recoupment liability. The code family is mutually exclusive within the same study encounter.

• Missing documentation of the non-contrast phase: The most frequent downcode trigger on post-payment audit is a radiology report that describes only post-contrast findings or does not explicitly state that pre-contrast sequences were acquired first. Without documentation of the non-contrast phase, payers will reduce payment to 70552 (with contrast only). The report must clearly state both phases, the sequence order, and the contrast agent used.

• Incorrect modifier placement in split-billing environments: In hospital-based radiology, modifier -26 belongs on the physician/radiology group’s CMS-1500 claim, not on the hospital’s UB-04. The hospital bills the TC implicitly through the CDM. Appending -26 to the UB-04 or billing the global code on both the physician and facility claims is a duplicate billing compliance violation.

• Billing 70553 with MR spectroscopy codes (70557-70559): CPT codes 70557, 70558, and 70559 describe MRI brain with spectroscopy, and their descriptors already include the brain MRI component (without contrast, with contrast, and without/with contrast respectively). If spectroscopy is performed, select the appropriate 70557-70559 code — do NOT also bill 70553 for the same session. Double-billing both series for the same study is an NCCI bundling violation.

• Using unspecified ICD-10-CM codes without querying: Defaulting to [[R51.9]] (headache, unspecified) or G40.909 (epilepsy, unspecified) when more specific diagnoses are documented in the ordering provider’s notes or in the clinical history on the requisition fails to capture the true clinical picture. ICD-10-CM specificity is required to demonstrate medical necessity for the without/with contrast protocol — payers may deny 70553 as not medically necessary if the diagnosis code does not meet clinical coverage criteria for contrast administration. Query first.

• Applying bilateral modifiers (RT/LT/50) to brain MRI: The brain is a single unpaired midline organ. Modifiers -RT, -LT, and -50 are not applicable to CPT 70553. Appending laterality modifiers to this code will cause claim rejection or processing delays with most payers. The bilateral indicator of 3 confirms bilateral rules do not apply.

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📎 Sources

_{¹ AMA CPT 2026 Professional Edition — Diagnostic Radiology, Head and Neck, CPT 70553 · ² CMS CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F), published October 31, 2025 · ³ CMS RVU26A Relative Value Files — CPT 70553, wRVU 2.23, Global XXX, Bilateral Indicator 3, PC/TC Indicator 1 · ⁴ NCCI Policy Manual for Medicare Services, Chapter 9 (Radiology), CMS 2025-2026 · ⁵ ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY2026 (Effective October 1, 2025) · ⁶ ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY2026 — Section B (Imaging), Body System 0 (Central Nervous System) · ⁷ CMS Internet-Only Manual (IOM), Pub. 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 13 — Radiology Services and Other Diagnostic Procedures · ⁸ ACR-ASNR-SPR Practice Parameter for the Performance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (revised 2022) · ⁹ AAPC — CPT Code 70553 Reference, aapc.com/codes/cpt-codes/70553 · ¹⁰ GoMedicalBilling.com — CPT 70553: 2026 Payment, RVUs & Billing Guide (updated March 31, 2026) · ¹¹ ProvidersCareBilling.com — CPT Code 70553: MRI of the Brain With & Without Contrast Billing (2025)}