Question

Ystourethroscopy with removal of two lesions of separate locations in the bladder, one is 1.5-cm bladder tumor anterior wall and one is 0.75-cm in the lateral wall. What coding rule applies?

-Two CPT codes should be used with a modifier -59.
-Two CPT codes should be used.
-Code only the CPT code for cystourethroscopy.
-Code only the largest tumor.

Answer 1

When coding for bladder tumor removal during cystourethroscopy, two separate CPT codes should be used with the modifier -59 to indicate separate locations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bladder Tumors and Coding

When coding for bladder tumor removal during cystourethroscopy, the coding rule to apply is to use two separate CPT codes.

Each tumor's size and location should be separately coded, along with the appropriate modifier, -59, to indicate that the two lesions are in separate locations. In this case, you would code for the 1.5-cm bladder tumor on the anterior wall and the 0.75-cm tumor on the lateral wall.

Thus, two CPT codes should be used with the modifier -59.