Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Our physician provides MRI guidance for ablation of renal tumor. How can we report these services?

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: For magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done during a tumor ablation procedure, you submit code 77022 (Magnetic resonance guidance for, and monitoring of, parenchymal tissue ablation).

Also check ablation procedure codes: For renal tumor ablation, you have the following codes. To select the right code, you need to determine how tumor tissue was ablated, i.e. by using radio or cryo ablation techniques.

• 50592, Ablation, 1 or more renal tumor(s), percutaneous, unilateral, radiofrequency, or
• 50593, Ablation, renal tumor(s), unilateral, percutaneous, cryotherapy

Note: 50592 and 50593 are unilateral procedure codes. For bilateral procedure, you report 50592 or 50593 with modifier 50.