Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Question: Which code should we use for the actual placement of the needles for brachytherapy? The ob-gyn places the needles into the vagina, and then the radiologist places the iridium.

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: You should use 57155 (Insertion of uterine tandems and/or vaginal ovoids for clinical brachy-therapy). Normally, the physician inserts two ovoid cylinders into the upper part of the patient's vagina, with the other end protruding through the vaginal opening. The ob-gyn then may also insert a tandem into the uterus. Code 57155 specifies tandems and/or vaginal ovoids, so the description would support using it for the procedure you describe.