Urology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Apply 52234 for Urethral Tumors, Too

Published on Mon Jan 17, 2011

Question: How should I report a TUR of a 1.5 cm urethral tumor?

Answer: Since the terms urethra and bladder fall under the heading of transurethral surgery in the CPT manual, you can use a bladder tumor treatment code to report the transurethral resection (TUR) of a urethral tumor. Code 52234 (Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] and/ or resection of; SMALL bladder tumor[s] [0.5 up to 2.0 cm]) would be the most appropriate coding based on the reported size of the tumor.

Diagnosis help: Possible diagnostic codes for this case may include 189.3 (Malignant neoplasm of kidney and other and unspecified urinary organs: urethra), 239.5 (Neoplasms of unspecified nature; other genitourinary organs), and 223.81 (Benign neoplasm of urethra).

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