The Best Seizure Diagnostic Tool Is Not a Medical Device Why Stand-Alone Video Review Needs a Current Procedural Terminology Code

The diagnosis of seizures and epilepsy is primarily based on the history, but history-taking is fraught with difficulties and has serious limitations, which is one reason for the common misdiagnosis of seizures. EEG is a very useful tool, but routine EEG has poor sensitivity, and prolonged EEG-video monitoring, the gold-standard for diagnosis, is only useful for patients with frequent events. Smartphones are ubiquitous, and their videos are increasingly used as an extension of the history and a diagnostic tool. Stand-alone videos should be considered a diagnostic tool and treated as such, including with a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, the American uniform nomenclature for medical procedures, which is used for billing and reimbursement.

Automated summary

The diagnosis of seizures and epilepsy is mainly based on the history, which has limitations and can result in misdiagnosis. EEG is useful but has poor sensitivity, while prolonged EEG-video monitoring is the gold standard for diagnosis but is limited to patients with frequent events. Smartphones' videos are increasingly being used as an extension of the history and a diagnostic tool. Stand-alone videos should be treated as a diagnostic tool and be assigned a CPT code for billing and reimbursement.