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Urology Coding Alert

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Ureter Unroofing

Published on Sat Jan 01, 2005

Question: I need a code for cystoscopic unroofing of the ureter and electrocoagulation of the inside of the ureteral tunnel.

California Subscriber

Answer: You should report 52290 (Cystourethroscopy; with ureteral meatotomy, unilateral or bilateral) for the unroofing of the ureter. The ureteral meatotomy best fits the unroofing procedure because the urologist extends the incisional meatotomy laterally to unroof the intramural ureter. You may want to append modifier -22 (Unusual procedural services) to this code to indicate the extended nature of the meatotomy.

Assign CPT 52214 (Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] of trigone, bladder neck, prostatic fossa, urethra or periurethral glands) for the fulguration of the tunnel that the urologist opened in the extended meatotomy.
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