Radiology Coding Alert

Don't forget to report guidance separately with these placement codes. Much-needed codes for interstitial device placement in specific anatomic areas continue to trickle in to the CPT manual. CPT 2010 adds codes for percutaneous intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal/intra-pelvic placement, and it tweaks the existing prostate placement code's descriptor. Thoracic: You will use 32553 (Placement of interstitial device[s] for radiation therapy guidance [e.g., fiducial markers, dosimeter] percutaneous, intra-thoracic, single or multiple) for device placement in the thorax, states an American College of Radiology (ACR) 2010 CPT Code Update (head to www.acr.org/hidden/economics.aspx, click on "The ACR Radiology Coding Source," and search the archives for Sept./Oct. 2009). Abdominal/Pelvic: For placement within the abdomen, pelvis, and retroperitoneum, you'll turn to 49411 (Placement of interstitial device[s] for radiation therapy guidance [e.g., fiducial markers, dosimeter], percutaneous, intra-abdominal, intra-pelvic (except prostate), and/or retroperitoneum, single or multiple), the ACR explains. Having specific codes such as 49411 is certainly [...]