Imaging · CPT 70450

What is CPT code 70450?

CT scan of the head or brain, without contrast.

By Justin Feldstein · Reviewed 2026-06-15

What it covers

A CT scan of your head taken without injected dye. CT layers many X-ray images into cross-sectional 'slices' of the brain and skull, and it's fast, which is why it's the go-to first scan in emergencies. The no-contrast version is standard for ruling out bleeding, a stroke, or injury after a fall or blow to the head.

When you'd see it

Often appears after an ER or urgent-care visit for head trauma, a sudden severe headache, confusion, a seizure, or dizziness, where a quick look at the brain is needed.

Roughly what it costs

$250–$1500 commonly billed

A ballpark on the billed amount. After insurance or a negotiated rate, what you owe is often far lower. Always compare against your Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

What's usually billed with it

Like other scans, a head CT typically carries a technical/facility charge for the scanner and a separate professional charge for the radiologist's reading, so two line items for one scan is expected.

70450 vs 70460

70450 is without dye; 70460 is with contrast and 70470 is 'with and without,' so the code billed should match whether you actually received a contrast injection. See 70460 (CT head WITH contrast).

What to watch for

Two line items for one head CT (the scan and the reading) is normal. A contrast charge on a 'without contrast' scan, or being billed for a different or additional body region, is worth raising with billing.

Specific things to question

• Billed as a contrast study (70460 or 70470) when no dye was injected.
• An emergency-department facility fee that seems to double-count the scan rather than being a separate visit charge.
• The same head CT read and billed twice by different readers.

How to check this charge on your own bill

Find 70450 on your itemized bill and match it against your EOB. Confirm it appears only once, that any bundled services aren't also billed separately, and that the amount matches what your insurer says it allowed. If something doesn't line up, that's a fair question for the billing office.