CPT code 49424: Cavity contrast study, existing abscess, cyst, or tract2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $171.01 for 49424 nationally in the office and $32.06 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $149.58–$236.28.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 49424 covers

A clinician injects contrast through an existing catheter or other access into an abscess cavity, cyst, or sinus tract, then obtains and interprets imaging to assess its shape, extent, or communication with nearby structures. This study is commonly performed by an interventional radiologist or another physician managing a percutaneous drain, in a hospital or outpatient setting. A sinogram through an established tract is a typical use; this code describes assessment, not placement of a new drainage catheter.

Report the study when documentation identifies the target cavity or tract, the reason for assessment, the contrast injection and imaging performed, and the findings. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 49424 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

49424 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 49424 rate is calculated

Each of 49424’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 49424

The CMS indicators that decide how 49424 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

49424 compared with similar codes

How to choose

49405Visceral drainagePercutaneous catheter placement

Choose 49405 when placing a catheter to drain a visceral collection. Choose 49424 when injecting contrast to assess an existing cavity or tract.

49423Drain catheter exchangeFluoroscopic exchange

49423 describes exchanging a drainage catheter. 49424 describes a contrast study of an abscess, cyst, or sinus tract.

49427Shunt injectionPeritoneovenous shunt assessment

49427 concerns injection assessment of an abdominal-venous shunt; 49424 assesses an abscess cavity, cyst, or sinus tract.

Codes related to 49424

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates