Anatomical Regions (CW) ICD-10-PCS
The CW body system covers Nuclear Medicine procedures on anatomical regions, with 382 ICD-10-PCS codes across 5 root operations, 372 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 5 operations · 382 codes
| Chars 1–3 | Root Operation | Codes | Billable |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW1 | Planar Nuclear Medicine ImagingIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for single plane display of images developed from the capture of radioactive emissions | 148 | 146 |
| CW2 | Tomographic (Tomo) Nuclear Medicine ImagingIntroduction of radioactive materials into the body for three dimensional display of images developed from the capture of radioactive emissions | 148 | 146 |
| CW3 | 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 | 4 | 2 |
| CW5 | 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 | 56 | 54 |
| CW7 | Systemic Nuclear Medicine TherapyIntroduction of unsealed radioactive materials into the body for treatment | 26 | 24 |
The info icon shows the official root operation definition and previews the codes in that range.
About the CW Body System
The ICD-10-PCS root operation Anatomical Regions in the Nuclear Medicine section involves introducing radioactive materials into the body to study or treat specific areas with nuclear technology. This operation captures and utilizes radioactive emissions for imaging or therapy purposes.
Within this classification, planar nuclear medicine imaging (Code CW1) produces single-plane images by detecting radioactive emissions, while tomographic imaging (Code CW2) offers three-dimensional displays by capturing emissions in multiple planes. Positron Emission Tomographic (PET) imaging (Code CW3) uses simultaneous detection of emissions from different angles to generate detailed 3D images. Additionally, nonimaging nuclear medicine probes (Code CW5) assess the distribution of radioactive substances within the body without forming images, helping analyze substance uptake or absorption. Finally, systemic nuclear medicine therapy (Code CW7) involves introducing unsealed radioactive materials for treatment purposes, highlighting the therapeutic role of this root operation. These codes demonstrate the diverse applications of nuclear medicine within this root operation, from diagnostic imaging to targeted therapy.
Questions About This Page
How many codes are in the CW body system?
The CW body system contains 382 ICD-10-PCS codes in FY 2026, organized into 5 root operations. 372 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.
