Question: I have a urology report that states the urologist performed a cup biopsy of a tumor and then fulgurated a larger area. Can we use a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) code to report this procedure?
Kansas Subscriber
Answer: Yes, you can use a code for a TURBT procedure. The urologist biopsied a tumor inside the patient’s bladder, which fulfills what you have described in the urology report.
The report also states the provider fulgurated a larger area following the cup biopsy. Depending on the area fulgurated, you’ll assign one of the following procedure codes:
Providers perform a TURBT to diagnose and treat bladder cancer simultaneously. During the procedure, the physician cuts out the tumor and then sends it to pathology for testing. The testing confirms the stage of the tumor and its grade.
Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC
