Reader Questions:
Find the Key to Gartner Duct Cyst Procedure
Published on Sat Jan 05, 2008
Question: Our physician performed a Gartner duct cyst procedure. How should I code this? Washington Subscriber Answer: You should report the procedure using a code from the 57000 series. Depending on the exact nature of the surgery, you could use 57000 (Colpotomy; with exploration) if the ob-gyn makes an incision in the vagina. Or you could use 57135 (Excision of vaginal cyst or tumor) if the physician cuts out part or the entire cyst and doesn't just incise it.
What it is: A Gartner duct cyst is a lateral vaginal wall congenital cyst left over when the male tubules of the sexless fetus dissolve because the female tubules are taking over during fetal development. These cysts are also known as Wolffian product remnants and are caused by the same thing as morgagnian cysts usually found by the fallopian tubes.