BR181ZZFluoroscopy of Thoracolumbar Joint using Low Osmolar Contrast
- Billable / Specific Code
BR181ZZ is a billable ICD-10-PCS procedure code for Fluoroscopy of Thoracolumbar Joint using Low Osmolar Contrast. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The root operation Fluoroscopy involves single plane or bi-plane real time display of an image developed from the capture of external ionizing radiation on a fluorescent screen. The image may also be stored by either digital or analog means. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this procedure falls under Fluoroscopy of non-circulatory organs.
Code Identity
PCS Table Breakdown
Each ICD-10-PCS code is built from seven characters, each an axis of the procedure. Hover or tap the icons for the official CMS definitions.
| Position | Designation | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section | B | Imaging |
| 2 | Body System | R | Axial Skeleton, Except Skull and Facial Bones |
| 3 | Type | 1 | Fluoroscopy |
| 4 | BodyPart | 8 | Thoracolumbar Joint |
| 5 | Contrast | 1 | Low Osmolar |
| 6 | Qualifier | Z | None |
| 7 | Qualifier | Z | None |
In the ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index
These FY 2026 ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index entries lead to this code:
To code fluoroscopy of the thoracolumbar joint, open the FY 2026 ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index at Fluoroscopy, then the subterms Joint, Thoracolumbar. The index leads to table BR1, where the contrast, qualifier and qualifier values shown in the breakdown above complete the seven-character code BR181ZZ.
Clinical Classification (CCSR)
AHRQ groups this procedure code into these clinical categories.
Convert to ICD-9-PCS
Closest ICD-9-PCS equivalents for this code under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Similar Procedure Codes
Questions About BR181ZZ
Is BR181ZZ a billable code?
Yes. This is a complete seven-character ICD-10-PCS code, specific enough to report Fluoroscopy of Thoracolumbar Joint using Low Osmolar Contrast on inpatient claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What do the characters in BR181ZZ mean?
The code breaks down character by character: the 1st character B is the Section (Imaging); the 2nd character R is the Body System (Axial Skeleton, Except Skull and Facial Bones); the 3rd character 1 is the Type (Fluoroscopy); the 4th character 8 is the BodyPart (Thoracolumbar Joint); the 5th character 1 is the Contrast (Low Osmolar); the 6th character Z is the Qualifier (None); the 7th character Z is the Qualifier (None).
What is the ICD-9-PCS equivalent of BR181ZZ?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, Fluoroscopy of Thoracolumbar Joint using Low Osmolar Contrast crosswalks to ICD-9-PCS 87.23 (Other x-ray of thoracic spine). The mapping is approximate, so confirm it fits the documentation.
