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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Avoid 52612 Going Forward

Published on Mon Apr 13, 2009

Question: I have tried to find a code for a resection of a prostatic nodule. I don't think CPT 52214 is appropriate because that's just a fulguration, and the urologist took four resected swipes from a prostate nodule. I also don't know if 52601 would be appropriate. How should I code this procedure? Florida Subscriber Answer: The code 52612 (Transurethral resection of prostate; first stage of two-stage resection [partial resection]), partial TURP, would have been appropriate for your procedure, but CPT deleted this code for 2009. Based on what your urologist performed, you should choose a code as follows: If your physician performed a transurethral biopsy of the prostatic urethral nodule,report 52204 (Cystourethroscopy, with biopsy[s]). If,however, the urologist removed the nodule by transurethral resection, and the nodule was no larger than 0.5 cm, report 52224 (Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] or treatment of MINOR [less than 0.5 [...]
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