Urology Coding Alert

Question: My doctor did an open retropubic radical prostatectomy. In this case he only removed the left sided pelvic lymph nodes. How should I report this procedure?

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: You should report 55845 (Prostatectomy, retropubic radical, with or without nerve sparing; with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, including external iliac, hypogastric, and obturator nodes) for the retropubic radical prostatectomy. Append modifier 52 (Reduced services) since your urologist only performed the lymphadenctomy on the left side.