HCPCS 72157

Magnetic resonance (eg, proton) imaging, spinal canal and contents, thoracic; without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sequences

AI EXPLANATION: A thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an outpatient diagnostic procedure that creates detailed pictures of the middle back. The scan captures cross-sectional images of the vertebrae, spinal cord, spinal canal, and surrounding tissues using a strong magnetic field and radio waves. During the examination, an initial set of images is taken without contrast material, followed by the injection of a contrast dye into a vein to capture additional images that highlight tissue details, blood circulation, and potential areas of inflammation.