Computed Tomography (CAT Scan) and Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) of the Chest and Thorax
Summary
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama considers CT scans of the chest and thorax medically necessary for indications including cough, hemoptysis, vocal cord paralysis or hoarseness, unexplained wheezing, abnormal findings on prior chest imaging, suspected pulmonary embolism based on clinical assessment and pre-test probability testing, metastases to the lung or mediastinum, known primary or metastatic lung or mediastinal tumors, interstitial lung disease, suspected thoracic aortic dissection, and evaluation of chest trauma. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the chest and thorax is considered medically necessary for indications including suspected pulmonary embolism, developmental anomalies of the thoracic vasculature, suspected thoracic aortic dissection, aortic pathology, peripheral arterial vascular disease, aneurysm of the thoracic aorta or thoracoabdominal aneurysm, and trauma. Chest CT and chest CTA are considered not medically necessary for screening of asymptomatic patients, except for indications outlined in the Screening for Lung Cancer Using Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning medical policy.
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