Industry News

RapidArc^TM and TomoTherapy®
By Beth Moores, MBA, MSHA, RT (T)

RapidArc^TM radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems and TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® Cancer Treatment System are both newer approaches to image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy. RapidArc^TM and TomoTherapy® both deliver radiation to the patient's tumor by rotating 360 degrees around the patient. The radiation is targeted through very small beams or beamlets with varying degrees of intensity from multiple angles.

Both are considered advances in the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) approach, and the course of treatment is still coded as IMRT. When coding for Rapid Arc^TM or TomoTherapy®, the plan would include IMRT treatment planning 77301. As with conventional IMRT treatment planning, complex treatment devices 77334 and basic dosimetry calculations 77300 are billable as documented. IMRT QA still needs to be performed like the conventional IMRT. Image guidance is utilized for locating and targeting the tumor prior to treatment delivery via CT imaging. When this procedure is performed and documented the 77014 CT Computed tomography guidance for placement of radiation therapy fields is billable. The treatment delivery is considered IMRT and the proper procedure code is 77418 Intensity modulated treatment delivery, single or multiple fields/arcs, via narrow spatially and temporally modulated beams, binary, dynamic MLC, per treatment session.