Urology Coding Alert
Here's the Better Choice for Prostatic Urethral Calcification
Question: The patient’s prostate urethra was calcified due to previous radiation therapy. Our urologist performed laser lithotripsy to break up the calcifications. Could we potentially report 52317 or 52214? Or is 52317 only for the bladder? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: When looking at code descriptors, your best choice based on the information you share is 52317 (Litholapaxy: crushing or fragmentation of calculus by any means in bladder… (and urethra) … and removal of fragments; simple or small (less than 2.5 cm)). Because 52317 is found in the CPT® manual under the column heading Transurethral Surgery, Bladder and Urethra, this code then would include treatment of calculi within the bladder but also within the urethra and prostatic urethra.
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