Heart (C2) ICD-10-PCS
The C2 body system covers Nuclear Medicine procedures on heart, with 60 ICD-10-PCS codes across 4 root operations, 52 of them billable in fiscal year 2026. Each root operation defines a distinct procedural objective, and the info icons show the official definition with a preview of the codes inside.
Root Operations in This Body System 4 operations · 60 codes
| Chars 1–3 | Root Operation | Codes | Billable |
|---|---|---|---|
| C21 | Planar Nuclear Medicine ImagingIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for single plane display of images developed from the capture of radioactive emissions | 18 | 16 |
| C22 | Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine ImagingIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for three dimensional display of images developed from the capture of radioactive emissions | 20 | 18 |
| C23 | Positron Emission Tomographic (PET) ImagingIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for three dimensional display of images developed from the simultaneous capture, 180 degrees apart, of radioactive emissions | 14 | 12 |
| C25 | Nonimaging Nuclear Medicine ProbeIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for the study of distribution and fate of certain substances by the detection of radioactive emissions; or, alternatively, measurement of absorption of radioactive emissions from an external source | 8 | 6 |
The info icon shows the official root operation definition and previews the codes in that range.
About the C2 Body System
The ICD-10-PCS root operation C2 pertains to Heart procedures within the Nuclear Medicine classification, involving the use of radioactive materials to produce diagnostic images or data. These procedures focus on capturing and analyzing radioactive emissions to assess cardiac function and structure.
This category includes various imaging techniques, such as Planar Nuclear Medicine Imaging (C21), which creates single-plane images of the heart by detecting emitted radiation. More advanced methods like Tomographic Nuclear Medicine Imaging (C22) produce three-dimensional images, enhancing visualization of cardiac anatomy. Positron Emission Tomographic (PET) Imaging (C23) offers detailed 3D images obtained from simultaneous detection of emissions at opposing angles, providing metabolic and functional insights. Additionally, the Nonimaging Nuclear Medicine Probe (C25) measures radioactive emissions to study the distribution of substances or absorption without creating images. These precise codes support accurate documentation of nuclear medicine heart procedures in ICD-10-PCS.
Questions About This Page
How many codes are in the C2 body system?
The C2 body system contains 60 ICD-10-PCS codes in FY 2026, organized into 4 root operations. 52 of them are billable on inpatient claims.
What is a root operation?
The root operation is the third character of every ICD-10-PCS code and names the objective of the procedure. Drainage takes fluid out, Excision cuts out a portion of a body part, and Resection removes all of one. Picking the right root operation is the central skill of PCS coding, so each one above carries its official CMS definition.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-PCS order file and code tables, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
