Urology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Prostate Volume Study With Brachytherapy

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Question: What is the correct way to code for a prostate volume study for brachytherapy?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: For brachytherapy, CPT code 76873 (echography, transrectal; prostate volume study for brachytherapy treatment planning [separate procedure]). The scan is used to determine the size of the gland and customize a seed-implant treatment. Each generated image is used to calculate the prostate volume, the number of radiation seeds and the exact placement of each seed.

CPT code 76965 (ultrasonic guidance for interstitial radioelement application) is reported at the time of the seed implantation by the urologist or the brachytherapist, depinding on who performs the procedure.