Non-Invasive Abdominal / Visceral Vascular Studies

Non-invasive abdominal and visceral vascular duplex studies are covered when signs or symptoms of ischemia/altered blood flow are present, the information is necessary to guide medical or surgical management, and the test is not redundant of other diagnostics. Specific indications include suspected stenosis/aneurysm, portal hypertension/cirrhosis complications, visceral venous or arterial thrombosis, renovascular hypertension, trauma, transplant or prosthetic complications, aortic/iliac pathology, and selected scrotal or ovarian torsion; penile vascular studies are generally not covered except for treatment failure with documented groin injury and suspected vascular impotence. Tests must be ordered by the treating physician, results recorded in the medical record, and performed/interpreted by appropriately credentialed personnel in accredited laboratories; abdominal aortic aneurysms >4.0 cm may be imaged at six-month intervals unless more frequent imaging is justified and documented.