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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Remember the Ectopic Ureter Code

Published on Fri Sep 23, 2005

Question: One of our patients has presented with recurring kidney infections. The urologist is planning to perform a hemi-nephroureterectomy. He describes the patient's condition as "an upper pole non-functioning duplicated renal segment and ureter." How should I report this?


Oregon Subscriber
Answer: In this scenario, you should report 50240 (Nephrectomy, partial) for the hemi-nephrectomy. Most likely the patient also had an ectopic ureter, so you would also report 50660-51 (Ureterectomy, total, ectopic ureter, combination abdominal, vaginal and/or perineal approach; multiple procedures) for the complete removal of the ectopic ureter.

Use ICD-9 codes 753.3 (Other specified anomalies of kidney) and 753.4 (Other specified anomalies of ureter) for the patient's diagnoses.
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