CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
74160 — CT abdomen; with contrast material
A CT scan of the abdomen performed after injecting contrast dye to enhance visualization of organs (liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bowel) and blood vessels.
- Typical setting: Hospital, imaging center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $175–$420 Medicare allowed; $300–$1,000 commercial; varies by region
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 74160 (abdomen with contrast) rather than 74177 (abdomen+pelvis with contrast) when both regions were scanned — 74177 is the correct code for combined abdomen/pelvis CT
What it means
What 74160 actually means
A CT scan of the abdomen performed after injecting contrast dye to enhance visualization of organs (liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bowel) and blood vessels. It is used to diagnose appendicitis, organ masses, abscesses, and vascular abnormalities.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing 74160 (abdomen with contrast) rather than 74177 (abdomen+pelvis with contrast) when both regions were scanned — 74177 is the correct code for combined abdomen/pelvis CT
- Billing 74160 and 74150 (without contrast) separately when a single with/without contrast study was performed — that requires 74170
- Contrast material billing errors — some payers require HCPCS codes for contrast separately; verify payer policy
If you see 74160 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 74160 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
70470 — CT head/brain with and without contrast
If contrast wasn't given, 70470 is the wrong code.
CPT
70486 — CT maxillofacial area; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
CPT
70551 — MRI brain without contrast
Same scan can be 5x cheaper at a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71045 — Chest X-ray, single view
Same image can cost 10x more at a hospital than a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71046 — Chest X-ray, two views (PA + lateral)
Two-view CXR is standard. Watch the price gap between hospital and freestanding.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 74160 on a bill.
74160 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 74160 usually cost?
$175–$420 Medicare allowed; $300–$1,000 commercial; varies by region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 74160?
Billing 74160 (abdomen with contrast) rather than 74177 (abdomen+pelvis with contrast) when both regions were scanned — 74177 is the correct code for combined abdomen/pelvis CT
What should I do if I see 74160 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 74160 before paying.
Don't pay 74160 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.